The Top 10 Entry-Level IT Jobs

The development of technology is on the rise, and careers in IT are becoming increasingly popular. With the number of benefits, high salaries, and the work security offered by these roles isn’t surprising.

If you want a career change or are a recent graduate, an entry-level IT job could be the right fit. We have listed some of the top IT entry-level roles which are all great ways to get into the industry.

1. Helpdesk Technician

The average salary for a Help desk technician is £20,420

Helpdesk Technician Responsibilities:

Helpdesk Technicians are responsible for providing technical assistance to customers, including taking details from customers about their IT problems, finding and fixing faults, and tracking work in progress. This role is a great stepping stone to joining the IT support team as you need little to no previous experience and will learn on the job.

Helpdesk Technician Skills:

• Basic understanding of computer systems and networks
• Customer service skills
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills
• Understanding of troubleshooting and diagnostics

2. Software Engineer

The average salary for a Software Engineer is £32,950

Software Engineer Responsibilities:

Some of the responsibilities of an entry-level Software Developer are writing code, testing software, debugging, and creating user stories to help define the scope of a project. Starting a career in software engineering can lead to many career paths such as becoming a Front-End Engineer, Back-End Engineer, Senior Engineer, Security Engineer, and Tech Lead.

Software Engineer Skills:

• Familiarity with programming languages such as JavaScript, C#, Python
• Mathematical skills
• Communication skills
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail 
• Understand data structures and algorithms
• Documenting requirements in a way that developers can understand

3. Systems Administrator

The average salary for a Systems Administrator is £28,250

System Administrator Responsibilities:

This entry-level role involves working with customers to fix codes and troubleshoot. You will be working closely with the Senior Systems Administrators and help them in optimizing server activity and ensuring system security.

Systems Administrator Skills:

• Customer focused
• Attention to detail
• Critical thinking
• Clear communication
• Knowledge of operating systems

4. UX Designer

The average salary for a UX Designer is £29,060

UX Designer Responsibilities:

As an entry-level UX Designer, you can have a broad range of responsibilities including deciding how your product is organised and structured to meet user's needs and use research methods such as surveys, observations, and interviews. You will also need to understand the foundations of visual design so you can communicate the connection between the functionality and appearance of a product.

UX Designer Skills:

• Understand types of user research methods
• Be methodical
• Be familiar with visual design software e.g., Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, and Illustrator
• Understand visual design best practices including colour theory, layout, and icons
• Understand Agile’s methodology – this is not necessarily needed, however since many software development teams use the Agile methodology, it means you would benefit from having some knowledge of this

5. Data Analyst

The average salary for a Data Analyst is £32,280

Data Analyst Responsibilities:

As an entry-level Data Analyst, you are likely to do lots of similar tasks to experienced analysts, however, it will be with less responsibility. For example, you’ll probably have a part in data collection, data cleaning, data modelling, data analysing, and data visualization.

Data Analyst Skills:

• Knowledge of programming languages, such as JavaScript or Python
• Understanding of database tools, including Microsoft Excel and SQL
• Mathematics
• Analytical skills
• Good communication and collaboration skills 

6. Business Analyst

The average salary for a Business Analyst is £39,100

Business Analyst Responsibilities:

The main responsibilities of an entry-level Business Analyst are uncovering the underlying business issues, organizing and modelling the requirements so they are unambiguous, building customer relationships and documenting business insights, including any solutions and aims. You will be working alongside Senior Analysts, so this would be the likely progression of your career.

Business Analyst Skills:

• Problem-solving skills
• Strategic thinking
• Presentation skills
• Analytical skills
• Knowledge of scrum, SQL, data modelling
• Good communication

7. Product Manager

The average salary for a Product Manager is £32,580

Product Manager Responsibilities:

You will likely be paired with a Senior Product Manager, but also helping support your team's larger product strategy which will involve collaborating with the product team, so you have a clear understanding of their vision and helping to set objectives. You will then be involved in building a strategic product roadmap and liaising with developers to build the features and products.

Product Manager Skills:

• Problem-solving skills
• An interest in business and a brief understanding of budgets, revenue, and profits
• Eager to learn
• Analytical skills
• Research skills
• Good communication
• Risk management
• Time management skills

8. Quality Assurance Engineer

The average salary for a Quality Assurance Engineer is £33,610

Quality Assurance Engineer Responsibilities:

Some of your responsibilities as an entry-level Quality Assurance Engineer are to create, review, and execute test cases, this is often using the software tool Jira. QA Engineers are responsible for ensuring a product is meeting its requirements by overseeing the product development process and suggesting corrections for improvements and optimization.

Quality Assurance Engineer Skills:

• Java
• Jira
• Regression to test software updates, identify test cases, and perform manual and automated testing
• JavaScript
• Understand user interface testing
• Linux
• Be a good problem-solver
• Strategic thinking

9. DevOps Engineer

The average salary for a DevOps Engineer is £46,000

DevOps Engineer Responsibilities:

Entry-level DevOps Engineers will likely be assisting in the deployment and technologies and tools used in software development, such as building servers, version control systems, and automated testing frameworks. You will also be working with the development team to resolve any problems with infrastructure and software deployments and assist in managing cloud-based infrastructure and services.

DevOps Engineer Skills:

• An understanding of cloud-based infrastructure and services e.g., Microsoft Azure or AWS
• Knowledge of programming language e.g., Python
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills
• Good communication and collaboration skills

10. Security Analyst

The average salary for a Security Analyst is £40,630

Security Analyst Responsibilities:

Security Analysts are primarily responsible for protecting digital assets from unauthorized access. This involves looking at the company’s security data and metrics to check for any suspicious activity and mitigating potential risks before they happen. If the company does have a cyber-attack occur, the Security Analyst will lead in the efforts to combat the attack.

Security Analyst Skills:

• Cybersecurity
• Problem-solving skills
• Cloud services
• Network security
• Mathematical skills
• Risk management
• Firewalls

The tech industry offers a multitude of enticing opportunities for those seeking entry-level IT positions. From Helpdesk Technicians to Security Analysts, these roles offer not only competitive salaries but also the chance to get hands-on experience in these evolving industries. Whether you're a recent graduate or considering a career change, these entry-level IT jobs provide a solid foundation for growth within the field.