Quick Answer: The IT industry is increasingly open to hiring candidates without traditional degrees, favoring practical skills and recognized certifications instead. High-paying roles such as Software Engineer, Web Developer, Data Analyst, Cloud Engineer, and System Administrator offer lucrative salaries, with opportunities to break into tech through intensive online education. Yellow Tail Tech provides specialized training programs aimed at equipping individuals with in-demand skills for these positions, enabling a faster path to employment in the tech field.
The IT industry is changing the rules on how they acquire employees. As it advances at a very agile pace to cater to new developments in tech, new and qualified talents are always pursued—and you don’t necessarily have to graduate from a university to be considered.
With the rise of online education and training platforms that offer reasonably paced but intensive programs focused on different areas in IT, more and more people are able to break into tech in a shorter span of time compared to completing a traditional 4-year college course. Instead of a degree, they use widely-recognized certifications to back up their expertise.
And while specific qualifications will still depend on the company, here are some high-paying IT jobs that don’t really require you to have a degree:
Note: We only included those that focus on highly technical roles. The roles listed may also branch out to more specific roles.
Software Engineer
Software engineers (sometimes called software developers) design, develop, test, maintain, and improve high-quality and innovative computer systems and applications that will serve as a solution to a company’s new and ongoing problems. The job description for this job generally includes programming well-designed and testable code and executing full lifecycle software development.
Average Salary: $94,026 per year
Web Developer
Web developers are mainly tasked to create websites, ensuring that they are visually appealing and easy to navigate. They are also responsible for monitoring traffic, troubleshooting crashes and other problems when they arise, implementing updates, and maintaining the website’s overall performance and speed.
Average Salary: $79,231 per year
Data Analyst
Data analysts are responsible for collecting, organizing, and interpreting data that varies from sales numbers, market research, logistics, linguistics, and all other information that a company will need to answer a question or solve a problem. They ensure that the data gathered are accurate, then design and present it to help organizations make better and evidence-based decisions.
Average Salary: $71,072 per year
Cloud Engineer
With how cloud technology is dominating the current market, one of the highest in-demand jobs right now is cloud engineering. Cloud engineers expertise on designing, developing, implementing, and managing software and systems that are accessible mainly through the internet. Responsibilities often also require migrating existing applications to the cloud and debugging cloud stacks. Average Salary: $123,072 per year
System administrators, also known as sysadmins, support, troubleshoot, and maintain computer servers and networks. They identify any problems in the system, anticipate potential issues, and implement solutions when necessary. They specialize in managing different operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Mac, etc., and ensure that they are functioning and meeting the needs of the company.
Average Salary: $75,663 per year
If you’re someone who’s trying to break into tech but can’t afford to go through college, because of time, money, or both, one of the best ways you can do it is by enrolling in online training platforms such as Ed Tech companies. Yellow Tail Tech offers programs that focus on AWS cloud engineering and Linux system administration that are specifically designed to help you acquire provenly in-demand skills in the tech industry.
How can I start a tech career without a college degree? You can start by enrolling in online training platforms that provide structured, hands-on programs in high-demand fields such as cloud engineering or Linux system administration.
What certifications can replace a degree in IT? Certifications like AWS Cloud Practitioner, AWS Solutions Architect, CompTIA Linux+, and Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) are widely recognized by employers.
Is online IT training effective for beginners? Yes. Online IT training programs are designed to take you from little to no background to job-ready, especially if they focus on practical, in-demand skills.
Why are IT certifications important? Certifications validate your skills and knowledge, making you competitive in the job market even without a traditional degree.
Sil brings a wealth of experience to her writing and editing projects. After nearly a decade guiding college students in research and communication, she shifted her focus to freelance writing and editing. Her passion for education continues through volunteer work, where she empowers others by teaching research and writing skills.
