Salary Benchmarks for Entry-Level IT Jobs

Typical salary ranges by role (what to expect)

Entry-level IT salaries vary by role, but common ranges give you a practical baseline. Typical U.S. ranges for new hires are: help desk / IT support: $35,000–$55,000; junior software developer: $55,000–$85,000; entry-level data analyst: $50,000–$75,000; junior network or systems administrator: $50,000–$75,000; entry-level cybersecurity analyst: $60,000–$90,000. These are general benchmarks — startups, big tech, and finance firms often pay toward the higher end, while nonprofits, education, or small businesses may fall on the lower side. Outside the U.S., ranges differ considerably, so always localize benchmarks to your country and city.

Key factors that influence entry-level IT salaries

Several variables affect where you land inside those ranges. Location is often the biggest: metro areas with high costs of living usually pay more. Industry matters too — finance, healthcare, and SaaS companies frequently offer higher starting salaries than retail or government. Education and credentials can help: a computer science degree, coding bootcamp completion, or certifications like CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+ and AWS Cloud Practitioner often boost offers. Practical experience — internships, freelance projects, GitHub contributions, or internships — commonly has as much influence as formal education. Finally, the job’s responsibilities (on-call duties, required certifications, breadth of systems) and benefits (stock options, signing bonuses, tuition reimbursement, paid training) affect the total compensation package beyond base pay. For U.S. government data see the BLS.

How to benchmark and negotiate your first IT salary

Use multiple sources to create an evidence-backed benchmark. Check industry salary sites (Glassdoor, PayScale, LinkedIn Salary), government data (BLS for U.S.), and niche reports (Stack Overflow and Dice surveys). Filter results by job title, location, and experience level to get a realistic range. When you get an offer, calculate total compensation: base salary + bonuses + equity + benefits (health, retirement match, paid time off) + training value. For negotiations: present your benchmark research, highlight relevant projects or certifications, and ask open questions (e.g., 'Is the base salary negotiable?' or 'Can we discuss signing bonus or a 6-month performance review with a salary adjustment?'). If the employer can’t raise base pay, negotiate for non-salary perks — extra PTO, remote work, paid certifications, or a clear path to a raise (see our guide on negotiating IT offers). Finally, keep expectations reasonable for entry-level roles: focus on growth potential and measurable checkpoints for salary increases rather than only the initial number.