True or false: An IT job would be best suited for someone who wants to work in big tech. The correct answer is: False. Working in IT goes far beyond the tech industry. Many industries hire information technology professionals. This means those considering a tech career can put their concerns about recent layoffs in big tech to rest as they fully explore the idea of working in IT.
The Difference Between the Tech Industry and the IT Workforce
The term “IT jobs” is not synonymous with “the tech industry.” While the technology industry employs IT professionals, it is separate from the IT workforce. The tech industry is made up of organizations that design, create, sell or distribute electronic products or services.
For example, a company that creates and sells computer equipment would be considered a big tech company and would be part of the tech industry. Companies that comprise the tech industry don’t just employ IT pros. Like other organizations, they hire employees of all types, which fill many non-tech roles, such as HR-related positions.
The IT workforce is separate from the tech industry because organizations across all sectors hire IT professionals. Organizations in education, government, finance, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, sales, nonprofit and, of course, tech, employ IT pros.
5 Non-tech Industries That Are Hiring IT Pros
Wondering what non-tech industries are currently hiring IT pros? Curious about what specific IT roles each industry is hiring for, and how much those roles pay annually? Here’s the information you’re looking for!
1. Healthcare companies are hiring IT pros. New healthcare-related technologies are constantly being created and updated. Healthcare companies rely on IT workers to develop essential software, track patient history, keep medical records secure, update electronic systems and much more. That’s why they are one of the top industries that hire IT workers.
As the COVID-19 pandemic played out, healthcare organizations grew increasingly needful of IT workers. Now that post-pandemic practices and protocols have been firmly established, the healthcare sector will continue to need a steady influx of IT employees.
According to Indeed.com, a few of the IT roles the healthcare sector is hiring for, as well as their corresponding yearly salaries, include:
- Programmer analyst: $96,699
- Medical manager: $86,978
- Clinical analyst: $75,599
- Health information technician: $45,586
2. The retail industry is seeking IT talent. The retail industry also relies on IT workers. This is especially true since many businesses have moved online and closed their physical doors.
According to an article by Deloitte, “…retailers have learned much about resiliency in the past few years. Massive demand fluctuations during the pandemic forced retailers to rethink archaic systems in favor of more pliable operations. They learned that rapidly evolving consumer preferences require more effective analytics and tools to build loyalty.” It is IT workers who manage analytics and ensure retail companies thrive during economic uncertainty.
A small sampling of IT job roles retail companies routinely hire for include:
- Data scientist: $124,012
- Customer analytics manager: $106,747
- Mobile manager: $106,104
3. Nonprofits are hiring. Nonprofit associations need IT services as much as any organization. If you’ve always wanted to work for a nonprofit but are also considering an IT career, you can have the best of both worlds.
An 2023 article by BizTech explained that donor retention is down. “As a result, technology may be asked to do more this year to fill in the gaps, protect existing resources and uncover new opportunities that might be hiding in the data.”
Various IT trends in the nonprofit sector will make IT pros vital to the success of associations and nonprofits now and in the future. The BizTech article cited IT trends such as an increased need for low-code and no-code tools, data-driven decision-making and the need for security assessments. It’s common to see nonprofits hiring for IT roles that include:
- Web developer: $76,103
- Software developer: $75,964
- Data analyst: $70,683
4. There are plenty of IT roles in education. Technology is critical for the education sector, and new educational technologies are always in the works. The education industry must have IT workers to create, update and apply these technologies. And edtech employees tend to make generous salaries – about $109,056 per year.
“With committed people focused on fixing the educational system through new surges of products, including educational technology, we’re seeing a growing need for tech workers in this space,” according to 5 Industries That Need Tech Professionals.
In the education sector, IT pros will find opportunities for employment in state agencies, schools, colleges and universities and companies that create and sell educational products and services. A few education-related IT roles include:
- Information systems analyst: $83,747
- Implementation analyst: $82,268
- Educational technologist: $64,630
5. Manufacturing is an IT hotbed. The manufacturing industry might not immediately come to mind when considering sectors that frequently hire IT workers. However, manufacturing companies need qualified IT workers too.
Manufacturing companies have come to rely on analytics software. Without it, they cannot track trends. This would make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to stay ahead of their competition and locate production-chain issues. Data analysts and data acquisition specialists give manufacturing companies an edge and can save them huge sums of money by streamlining their processes.
Take a look at these IT job roles common at manufacturing companies:
- Associate systems engineer: $107,894
- Data modeler: $100,495
- Data analyst: $70,683
- Data acquisition specialist: $61,900
Get Your IT Career Started with a CompTIA Foundational Certification
With the right IT credential, getting into information technology doesn’t have to be difficult. You don’t need a degree in computer science or extensive experience to land an entry-level role in IT, which is where every tech pro starts out. All you need is a foundational IT certification like CompTIA A+.
Did you know employers use the CompTIA A+ certification to determine what job candidates are best for entry-level IT jobs that have plenty of room for growth? By earning CompTIA A+, you’ll have everything you need to secure your first IT job. It’s the best way to get an IT job fast. From there, you can earn CompTIA certifications that are tailored to the exact IT job you want.
Find out if an IT career is right for you by taking our fast, easy quiz.
