The degree debate in tech has reached a strange place. On one side, you have every major tech company announcing they’ve dropped degree requirements. Google, Apple, IBM, Microsoft—they all want you to know they’re skills-first now. On the other side, you’re still seeing “Bachelor’s degree required” on half the job postings you read.

So which is it? Are IT jobs actually accessible without a degree, or is this just corporate PR?

Here’s what the data actually shows: 78% of companies claim to use skills-based hiring. But when researchers dug deeper, they found that only about 0.14% of actual hires are affected by degree requirement removal. The gap between what companies say and what they do is massive.

But before you close this tab in frustration, there’s good news: IT is one of the few fields where the skills-first promise actually delivers—if you know where to look and how to position yourself. This isn’t theory. There are over 317,000 IT job openings annually, and a significant chunk of them genuinely don’t require a four-year degree.

Let me show you which roles are actually accessible, what they pay, and how to land one.

The Honest Reality of “Degree Preferred”

Job postings lie. Not always intentionally, but they do. HR writes a wish list, and “Bachelor’s degree preferred” gets added because that’s what the template says. Meanwhile, the hiring manager just wants someone who can troubleshoot Active Directory and show up on time.

Here’s how to read between the lines:

“Bachelor’s degree required” often means they’ll consider you with:

  • A relevant associate degree + certifications
  • 2-3 years of hands-on experience
  • A strong portfolio or home lab documentation
  • Military IT training

“Bachelor’s degree preferred” usually means:

  • They’d like a degree but won’t reject you for not having one
  • Certifications and experience carry equal weight
  • Your interview performance matters more than your transcript

No degree mentioned means:

  • They genuinely care about skills
  • Certifications and experience are your ticket in
  • These jobs often have higher competition because everyone can apply

The IT career change without degree path is proven. But you need to be strategic about which roles you target.

Entry-Level IT Jobs That Actually Hire Without Degrees

Not all IT jobs are created equal when it comes to degree requirements. Some roles have been skills-based forever. Others still cling to degree preferences because old habits die hard.

Help Desk / IT Support Specialist

Salary range: $45,000-$65,000 Degree requirement: Rarely enforced Time to job-ready: 2-4 months with focused study

This is the front door to IT for a reason. Help desk jobs without experience are genuinely accessible because employers know they need warm bodies who can learn. The technical bar is low. The soft skills bar is surprisingly high.

What you actually need:

  • CompTIA A+ certification or equivalent knowledge
  • Basic troubleshooting methodology
  • Customer service temperament (seriously, this matters more than technical skills)
  • Willingness to work off-hours initially

The A+ certification has become the de facto entry credential. It won’t get you hired automatically, but missing it will get your resume filtered out automatically.

Desktop Support Technician

Salary range: $48,000-$68,000 Degree requirement: Rarely enforced Time to job-ready: 3-6 months

One step up from help desk, desktop support involves more hands-on work and less phone time. You’re the person who physically fixes things when remote troubleshooting fails.

Required skills:

This role rewards people who genuinely enjoy tinkering with hardware. If taking apart electronics as a kid felt like play, not work, you’ll fit right in.

Junior Systems Administrator

Salary range: $55,000-$75,000 Degree requirement: Sometimes listed, often waived Time to job-ready: 6-12 months (faster with help desk experience)

The jump from help desk to sysadmin is the most common career progression in IT. Companies would rather promote a known quantity than roll the dice on an outside hire with a degree but no proven work ethic.

This role requires:

  • Windows Server experience
  • Basic PowerShell scripting
  • Network fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP)
  • Some Linux exposure is increasingly expected

Build a home lab and document it well. A working Active Directory environment you built yourself impresses hiring managers more than coursework.

Junior Network Administrator

Salary range: $55,000-$72,000 Degree requirement: CCNA often substitutes Time to job-ready: 6-12 months

Networks are infrastructure. Infrastructure is critical. This makes network roles slightly more credentialist than help desk—but certifications absolutely substitute for degrees.

Key requirements:

  • Networking basics (the CompTIA Network+ covers this)
  • Cisco or equivalent vendor exposure
  • Troubleshooting methodology for connectivity issues
  • Subnetting (yes, you need to understand this)

The CCNA is the gold standard here. It’s harder than CompTIA exams but carries more weight with employers.

Cloud Support Associate

Salary range: $50,000-$70,000 Degree requirement: Certifications preferred over degrees Time to job-ready: 4-8 months

Cloud is eating traditional IT, which creates opportunity. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud all offer entry-level certifications that employers genuinely respect. The cloud vendors have essentially created their own credentialing system that bypasses traditional education entirely.

Required:

  • AWS Cloud Practitioner or Azure Fundamentals certification
  • Basic understanding of virtualization concepts
  • Some Linux command-line familiarity (Shell Samurai is a solid way to practice)
  • Willingness to work in an always-changing environment

Mid-Level Roles Achievable Without a Degree

Here’s where things get interesting. These roles pay significantly more and often have “degree required” in the posting—but consistently hire people without them.

Systems Administrator

Salary range: $65,000-$95,000 Reality check: Experience + certs beats degree every time

Full sysadmin roles are where the help desk grind pays off. After 2-3 years in support roles, you’ve developed something no degree provides: intuition about how systems fail and how users break things.

What actually matters:

Linux Administrator

Salary range: $72,000-$135,000 Reality check: The command line is your interview

Linux admins are in brutal demand right now because AI infrastructure runs on Linux. Every LLM, every training cluster, every cloud instance—Linux underneath. This has spiked demand for people who actually understand the operating system.

The Linux world cares even less about degrees than the Windows world. Open source culture values contributions over credentials. The Linux Foundation certifications (LFCS, LFCE) carry weight, and you can prepare for them entirely through practical command-line practice.

Cybersecurity Analyst (Entry/Junior)

Salary range: $65,000-$95,000 Reality check: Security+ and SOC experience open doors

Getting into cybersecurity without a degree is completely viable. The field has a 3.5 million job shortage globally, and employers can’t afford to be picky about credentials when they can’t fill seats.

The entry path:

  1. CompTIA Security+ certification
  2. SOC analyst role (often accessed from help desk background)
  3. Hands-on practice through TryHackMe or HackTheBox
  4. CTF competitions and practice to build real skills

The cybersecurity certification path for beginners is well-documented. Security+ is your entry point; from there, specialize.

Cloud Engineer (Junior)

Salary range: $70,000-$100,000+ Reality check: Cloud certs matter more than any degree

Cloud roles are perhaps the most meritocratic in IT. AWS, Azure, and GCP have each built their own certification programs that validate real skills. A candidate with AWS Solutions Architect and real project experience will beat a CS grad with neither.

The path:

  1. Cloud Practitioner / Azure Fundamentals (entry-level validation)
  2. Solutions Architect Associate / Azure Administrator (the real credential)
  3. Hands-on projects in the free tier
  4. DevOps skills if you want to maximize earning potential

What Actually Substitutes for a Degree

Let’s be specific about what works as a degree replacement. Vague promises of “skills-based hiring” don’t help you apply for jobs. Here’s what concretely moves you forward.

Certifications That Employers Actually Respect

Role Target Essential Cert Cost Study Time
Help Desk / IT Support CompTIA A+ ~$500 (two exams) 2-3 months
Network Support CompTIA Network+ ~$390 2-3 months
Security / SOC CompTIA Security+ ~$400 3-4 months
Cloud Support AWS Cloud Practitioner ~$100 1-2 months
Cloud Engineer AWS Solutions Architect Associate ~$150 3-6 months
Linux Admin CompTIA Linux+ or LFCS ~$400 3-4 months
Networking Pro Cisco CCNA ~$330 4-6 months

The Google IT Certificate vs CompTIA A+ debate is worth reading if you’re choosing between them. Both work; they serve slightly different purposes.

Bootcamps as Degree Alternatives

Coding bootcamps get mixed reviews, but the data on job placement is reasonably strong. About 80% of graduates find relevant work, with average starting salaries around $80K for development roles.

The bootcamp vs degree question has a straightforward answer: bootcamps are faster and cheaper, degrees have more fallback value if tech doesn’t work out. For pure IT (not software development), certifications often make more sense than bootcamps.

Apprenticeship Programs at Major Companies

This is genuinely underutilized. Major tech companies have formal apprenticeship programs for candidates without degrees:

Microsoft LEAP: 16-week immersive engineering program, paid, leads to full-time roles Amazon Technical Apprenticeships: Paid programs, especially accessible for veterans Google Apprenticeships: Multiple tracks in IT support and other areas Accenture: Year-long tech apprenticeship in 40+ cities, explicitly seeking non-degree candidates IBM Apprenticeships: Earn-and-learn programs in various tech roles

These programs exist because big tech realized they were missing talent by requiring degrees. They’re competitive but very real.

The Home Lab Advantage

A documented home lab on your resume demonstrates something no degree can: that you learn on your own time because you genuinely care about technology.

What makes a home lab impressive:

  • Active Directory domain with GPOs (shows Windows admin skills)
  • Linux servers running real services (web, DNS, file sharing)
  • Network segmentation with VLANs (shows networking knowledge)
  • Documentation that someone else could follow

Don’t just build it—document how you put your homelab on your resume. The documentation proves you can communicate, not just configure.

The Skills Employers Actually Want

Forget the degree debate for a moment. What do employers actually evaluate when they’re making hiring decisions?

Technical Skills in Demand

Based on current tech skills analysis:

  1. Cloud Platform Experience (AWS/Azure/GCP) - 90%+ of enterprises are in the cloud now
  2. Python - The Swiss Army knife for automation, security, and data
  3. Linux Administration - AI infrastructure has spiked demand
  4. Networking Fundamentals - TCP/IP, DNS, routing, firewalls
  5. Container Technologies - Docker, Kubernetes
  6. Automation/Scripting - PowerShell, Bash

Soft Skills That Tip the Scales

Here’s something degree-holders often miss: technical interviews are only half the evaluation. The other half is whether they want to work with you.

Critical soft skills:

The IT interview questions you’ll face test both categories. Prepare accordingly.

How to Actually Get Hired Without a Degree

Theory is great, but let’s talk tactics. Here’s how to move from “interested in IT” to “employed in IT.”

Fix Your Resume First

Your IT resume without experience needs to compensate for missing credentials by emphasizing relevant skills, projects, and certifications prominently.

Key resume moves for no-degree candidates:

  • Put certifications in a prominent “Credentials” section
  • Include your home lab as a “Projects” section with specific technologies
  • List transferable skills from previous careers (customer service, documentation, troubleshooting)
  • Omit the education section entirely if it’s not helpful (GED or some college isn’t adding value)

Check IT resume examples that actually get interviews for formatting that works.

The job search for non-traditional candidates requires different tactics than the standard “apply and wait” approach.

What works:

  • Focus on companies with proven no-degree hiring (see the apprenticeship list above)
  • Use LinkedIn strategically—LinkedIn optimization for IT professionals matters
  • Apply to job postings even when they list degree requirements (many candidates do)
  • Target MSPs (Managed Service Providers)—they’re often desperate for help desk staff
  • Consider contract-to-hire roles, which often have lower barriers

What doesn’t work:

  • Only applying to jobs where you meet 100% of requirements
  • Mass-applying without customizing applications
  • Ignoring the cover letter (IT cover letter examples can help)

Prepare for the Interview Differently

When you don’t have a degree, interviews matter more. You need to demonstrate competence that would otherwise be assumed from credentials.

Prepare for:

  • Technical questions specific to the role (practice on paper, not just in your head)
  • Behavioral questions using the STAR method
  • The inevitable “tell me about your background” question—have a compelling narrative

Avoid common IT interview mistakes like underselling your self-taught skills or apologizing for lacking a degree.

Companies That Actually Hire Without Degrees

This isn’t just theory. These companies have publicly stated or demonstrated skills-first hiring:

Tech Giants:

  • Google (Google Career Certificates lead to interviews)
  • Apple
  • IBM (explicitly states skills over degrees)
  • Microsoft (LEAP program + general skills-first)
  • Amazon (multiple apprenticeship paths)

Large Enterprises:

  • Bank of America
  • Walmart
  • Costco
  • Hilton

MSPs and IT Service Companies:

  • Most MSPs care more about certifications than degrees
  • Contract staffing firms often have lower barriers
  • Startups generally prioritize skills over credentials

Salary Expectations Without a Degree

Let’s address the money question directly. Can you earn a good living in IT without a degree?

Based on the IT salary survey data:

Role Entry (0-2 years) Mid (3-5 years) Senior (5+ years)
Help Desk $45,000-$55,000 $55,000-$65,000 $65,000-$80,000
Systems Admin $55,000-$70,000 $70,000-$90,000 $90,000-$120,000
Network Admin $55,000-$70,000 $70,000-$85,000 $85,000-$110,000
Cloud Engineer $70,000-$90,000 $90,000-$130,000 $130,000-$170,000+
Security Analyst $65,000-$85,000 $85,000-$110,000 $110,000-$150,000

The median wage for all IT occupations is $105,990 according to BLS—more than double the national median. These numbers don’t distinguish between degreed and non-degreed workers because at the mid-senior level, nobody cares about your degree anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really get hired in IT without any degree?

Yes. Entry-level IT roles like help desk and IT support have genuinely hired without degrees for decades. The recent “skills-first” announcements from major companies have expanded this to more advanced roles. The key is substituting degrees with certifications, experience, and demonstrable skills. Focus on roles that have historically valued certifications over credentials—help desk, network support, cloud support, and security operations centers all fall into this category.

How long does it take to get an IT job without a degree?

The timeline depends on your starting point and target role. For help desk positions, 2-4 months of focused study (earning CompTIA A+ and building basic troubleshooting skills) can make you competitive. For more specialized roles like cloud or security, expect 6-12 months to build adequate skills and credentials. The entry-level IT job guide provides specific timelines for different paths.

What’s the fastest path to a $70K+ IT salary without a degree?

Cloud roles offer the fastest high-salary path for non-traditional candidates. Start with AWS Cloud Practitioner ($100 exam, 1-2 months study), then pursue Solutions Architect Associate. Combined with hands-on practice building real infrastructure in the free tier, this path can lead to cloud support roles paying $65K-$85K within 6-8 months of starting. From there, advancing to cloud engineer roles above $100K typically takes another 1-2 years.

Are IT certifications really worth the cost?

For candidates without degrees, certifications are nearly mandatory—they’re how you prove baseline competency to employers who can’t rely on educational credentials. The data on certification value shows that 32% of cert holders receive raises and 63% get promoted. More importantly, many job applications are filtered automatically for candidates without relevant certifications. The ROI is typically strong: a $500 A+ certification investment can lead to a $45,000+ job.

Should I get a bootcamp or certifications?

For traditional IT roles (help desk, sysadmin, network admin, security), certifications are generally more valuable than bootcamps. Bootcamps excel for software development and data science roles. If you want to write code professionally, a coding bootcamp makes sense. If you want to manage infrastructure, support users, or secure systems, stack certifications instead.

The Bottom Line

IT without a degree isn’t some theoretical possibility—it’s how a significant portion of the industry actually operates. The 317,000 annual job openings include plenty of roles where skills, certifications, and experience matter more than a diploma.

The gap between “78% of companies claim skills-first hiring” and “0.14% of hires are affected by degree removal” matters less than you’d think. That gap represents large corporate HR policies moving slowly. The actual IT jobs you’re likely to land—help desk at an MSP, junior admin at a midsized company, cloud support at a fast-growing startup—never required degrees to begin with.

Your path forward:

  1. Get CompTIA A+ or an equivalent entry certification
  2. Build a home lab and document it properly
  3. Apply to roles even when they list “degree preferred”
  4. Target companies with proven skills-first hiring
  5. Prepare for interviews like your competence needs to be demonstrated, not assumed

The degree question fades fast once you’re employed. Nobody asks about your education when you’re the one fixing their production server at 2 AM. They just want to know you can solve the problem.

Ready to start? The complete guide to breaking into tech covers the full path from zero to employed.