Timeline: Your IT Career Progression

Z0sickx

Z0sickx said:

Z0sickx said:

Title: I.T Intern
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Internship for Government
Company size: don't know
Age: 20
Duration: 2 Summers
How: dad got it for me
Certs: None
Education: In community college
Pay: $15/hr

Title: Subject matter Expert
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Gov contractor
Company size: 100k
Age: 22-27
Duration: 5 years
How: Job Fair
Certs: Sec+
Education: bachelors
Pay: $74k before i left

Title: Senior Security Engineer
Hour/wk: 40 (sometimes in 50-60 hour range but only when things are going south or work needs to be done)
Description: Contractor
Company size: 1000
Age: 29
Duration: 2+ years
How: Linkedin Search
Certs: Sec+, CASP, CISSP, CEH
Education: Bachelors
Pay: currently at $111,000

current job i had 5% raise first year then 4% raise 2nd year, yes i'm a heavy hitter on my team by no means the top dog

Title: Senior Security Engineer
Hour/wk: 40 (sometimes in 50-60 hour range but only when things are going south or work needs to be done)
Description: Contractor
Company size: 1000
Age: 31
Duration: 3 years
How: Linkedin Search
Certs: Sec+, CASP, CISSP, CEH,CISM
Education: Bachelors
Pay: currently at $150,000

got a pay bump back in Jan of 2019...niche skill set deploying SVM tools to enterprise so far have 3 under my belt. More of top dog and customer likes me

Title: Senior network Security Engineer(but doing architecture and engineering)
Hour/wk: 40 at least
Description: Contractor
Company size: 100000
Age: 31
Duration: just started
How: Old manager asked me to work for home
Certs: Sec+, CASP, CISSP, CEH,CISM
Education: Bachelors
Pay: currently at $180,000

DatabaseHead

DatabaseHead said:

DatabaseHead said:

DatabaseHead said:

DatabaseHead wrote: »

Title: Senior Business Intelligence Analyst
Hour/wk: 40 week
Description: SQL, Data Warehousing, Data Marts, Statistics, Audits
Company size: 91,500
Age: 42
Duration: 3 months - Current
How: Corporate recruiter reached to me on LinkedIn.
Certs: None that I list anymore
Education: Bachelors/Masters
Pay: 88,000 with a 10% - 20% bonus.

Update

Duration 1 year on the 23rd.

Pay went up to 89,990 still getting a 10% - 20% bonus. Role has expanded, should be good to go for another year....

Next stop BI Architect, this could take a while.......

Ended up lasting ~ 2 years in BI Role.

Title: Senior Sales Analyst  (Ridiculous title, Tableau developer essentially)
Hour/wk: 40 week
Description: Tableau, Business Objects, SAP Order Systems
Company size: 50,000+
Age: 43
Duration: 3 months = Current
How: Applied company website
Certs: Tableau, Teradata Database
Education:  (Only listing Bachelors now)
Pay: 90,000  (Pay went up a tick but lost the bonus)  Insurance isn't as good either, but its for the greater good  (WFH).  Looking to transition to Jacksonville FL from the Midwest and this is part of the plan.  Once I am local down there and hopefully get a year in this role I may or may not look for another position.  My oldest is getting close to graduating high school and the UF school system looks wonderful and the cost of in-state student's is WOW.  

Late update....

Bounced on previous job after 3 months, way better opportunity besides couldn't stand the job, bait and switch.

Title:  Enterprise Architect
Age 43
Hrs a week 40 - 45
Company Size ~20,000
Duration 5 months so far
Education Masters and Bachelors
Certs Added CSM working on TOGAF
Pay 140,000 USD

Bouncing once again, actually made it 6 months!  Keep in mind this was a 3 month contract, that kept rolling every 3 months, next review cycle is Sept 1st.   0 stability, hence the high pay for the locale.

Title:  Business Systems Analyst (The role is an architect level role this company won't assign that title).  1 year contract, potential 6 months right to hire and/or could role onto another project after 1 year or....   get extended for another year.  This company as far as I understand it, will only keep you on the same project for 2 years.....

Age 44
Hrs a week 40
Company Size ~100,000
Duration Starting on the 3rd, after Labor Day (US Holiday)
Education Masters and Bachelors
Certs None recently, working on BPMN
Pay ~120,000  USD Took a pay cut

Reason moving to Jacksonville FL, from St. Louis.  Yes the family and I are VERY excited.  

Neil86

Neil86 said:

Title: Technology Specialist I
Age: 31
Duration: 11 months
How: Indeed (out of state applicant)
Company size: ~250
Description: Only me and another in the IT dept, so everything from desktop support to network support. Great learning experience. Non-profit organization.
Certs: none, working on CCNA
Education: A.S. Network Infrastructure
Pay: $16/hr


Title: Technology Specialist II
Age: 32
Duration: 1 month (currently employed)
How: Indeed (out of state applicant)
Company size: ~250
Description: Same agency as above. DS Support, network infrastructure and admin, cloud services, MDM, security, etc. A very broad role in a department with only two IT guys. Great learning experience.
Certs: none yet
Education: A.S. Network Infrastructure
Pay: $19/hr

Small past due update:

Title: Technology Specialist II
Age: 33
Duration: 2.5 yrs with the agency
How: Indeed (out of state applicant)
Company size: 250-300
Description: Two man IT team. Education based NPO with 25 remote sites in the area. Wore many hats. Everything an anything IT related from A-Z.
Certs: CCENT, ATSA/IN
Education: A.S. Network Infrastructure
Pay: $22/hr (pay raise)

Left the organization and moved back to my old state. Enjoyed the area a lot but my old grounds felt like home every time I visited. They enjoyed having me and my services and offered me a temporary contract gig providing remote support:

Title: Contract gig providing remote support and administration for previous employer
Age: 33
Duration: 2 month contract with possibility for on-call/as-needed assistance
Company size: 250-300
Description: Education based NPO with 25 remote sites in the area. Everything an anything IT related from A-Z.
Certs: CCENT, ATSA/IN
Education: A.S. Network Infrastructure
Pay: $27.50/hr

 After getting some great experience it was much easier finding a job this time around. Had a few offers and chose the one below:

Title: IT Support Specialist
Age: 33
Duration: Started 11/25/19
How: Indeed (out of state applicant). Phone + in-person interview.
Company size: ~200
Description: Telecom engineering company. End user support, hardware/software/device management, various projects. Less responsibilities than before but most of their infrastructure is managed by a larger corp.
Certs: CCENT, ATSA/IN
Education: A.S. Network Infrastructure
Pay: $50000/yr

earonw49

earonw49 said:

Timeline Since 2014

Title: Helpdesk Support Analyst II
Hours/wk: 40+ (Overtime Approved)
Description: Call center helpdesk for an IT company who managed hotel, condo and apartment lobby kiosks. We all have to start somewhere!
Company size: 100
Age : 23/24
Duriation: 1 Year
How: Applied on Careerbuilder.com. Was called in for an interview next week and offered a position the next day.
Certs: A+
Education: Associates. Worked on BSIT @ WGU full time during this job position 
Pay : $30k
Location: Tennessee

Title: Information Technology Analyst II / Desktop Suport Engineer II
Hours/wk: 40+ (Overtime Approved)
Description: State Government traveling IT support. Project deployment, desktop and helpdesk support as well as some network support.
Company size: 10000+
Age : 24
Duriation: 1 Year
How: I appled via indeed.com and was contacted a month later by a recruiter. Interviewed two weeks later and got the call that I got the job on my honeymoon, haha!
Certs: A+, N+, S+
Education: Associates. Worked on BSIT @ WGU full time during this job position 
Pay : $35k
Location: Tennessee

Title: Launch and Mission IT Administrator II
Hours/wk: 40+ (Overtime Approved)
Description: From systems admin to networking to desktop support and logistics, I did everything
Company size: 5000
Age : 25
Duriation: 1 Year
How: I relentlessly applied for IT positions and contacted (on a professional level) the recruiters and hiring manager on Linkedin. Drove 800 miles to have a quick 30 min face to face, unplanned interview with hiring manager. He liked me a lot and offered me the job on the spot.
Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs
Education: Associates. Worked on BSIT @ WGU full time during this job position 
Pay : $55k
Location: Florida

Title: Professional Development Program:
Position 1 - Network Engineer II
Position 2 - Information Security Systems Engineer
Position 3 - MS Dynamics Security & Development Analyst II
Hours/wk: 40+ (Overtime Approved, required during Systems Engineer rotation)
Description: Firewall and security project support as well as project management. Systems security projects and MS Dynamics database management, security and user account support.
Company size: 95000+
Age : 26 
Duriation: 2.5 years
How: Applied internally for the last 2 rotations. First rotation / got my foot in the door through my wife (works at the company) and a few former work associates.
Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs, BSIT @ WGU
Education: BSIT @ WGU
Pay : $65k-68k. Note that this position was within a rotational program (glorified post graduate program). The pay does not decrease with the rotation switch. My pay significantly increased once I was hired out of the rotational program.
Location: Florida

Title: Information Security Engineer II
Hours/wk: 40 (Overtime Approved, but rarely needed according to employees I talked to)
Description: DIACAP, RMF, Goverment Compliance, auditing, scanning and security structure improvement for federal and private Aerospace & Defense contractors.
Company size: 500+
Age : 27
Duriation: 10 months
How: Previous position was taken from under my feet at the last minute (budget cuts) and I fell back into my old position. Decided to move on from company to the direction I wanted my career to go. Updated my resume, linkedin, and portfolio. Upgraded to linkedin premium and sent the head recruiter(s) my resume and applied for this position via their website and linkedin. They called me for an interview a few days later and after said interview, offered me the job a day later.
Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs, CCNA, CCNA:Security
Education: BSIT @ WGU, MSISA pending late this year
Pay : $72k+ Bonus Upfront
Location: Florida

Title: Seinor Information Assurance Risk Analyst (ISSO)
Hours/wk: 40 (Overtime is approved and required)
Description: DIACAP, RMF, JSIG, goverment compliance, auditing, scanning and security structure improvement for a large, top 3 multi-billion dollar Aerospace Defense contractor.
Company size: 100000+
Age : 28
Duriation: Pending Start
How: I know a couple of internal contacts within the company due to individuals I connected with my work at SpaceX and from my former employer. I reached out to them and landed 3 interviews in 2 weeks and chose my current position between the offers I recieved.
Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs, CCNA, CCNA:Security, CISSP pending
Education: BSIT @ WGU. MSISA in progress, completion pending late 2019
Pay : $85k + Bonus Upfront
Location: Florida

Hoping to get to 100k by the time I am 32 or 33!

Edit Reason: Clean up the history a bit after 4 years of not posting.

Update to previous title and new role:

Title: Senior Information Assurance Engineer (Lvl IV position)
Hours/wk: 40 (Overtime is approved and is funded)
Description: DIACAP, RMF, JSIG, government compliance, auditing, scanning and security structure improvement for a large, top 3 multi-billion dollar Aerospace Defense contractor.
Company size: 100000+
Age : 29
Duriation: Pending Start
How: I reached out to a well known recruiter manager within the company and also an Info Sec director in a different sector than the one I will be working in. Sent in my resume and 3 weeks later, I was offered a position.
Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs, CCNA, CCNA:Security, CISSP, CAPM, CEH pending
Education: BSIT & MSITM @ WGU
Pay : $110k + Bonus
Location: Florida

DatabaseHead

DatabaseHead said:

DatabaseHead said:

DatabaseHead said:

DatabaseHead said:

DatabaseHead wrote: »

Title: Senior Business Intelligence Analyst
Hour/wk: 40 week
Description: SQL, Data Warehousing, Data Marts, Statistics, Audits
Company size: 91,500
Age: 42
Duration: 3 months - Current
How: Corporate recruiter reached to me on LinkedIn.
Certs: None that I list anymore
Education: Bachelors/Masters
Pay: 88,000 with a 10% - 20% bonus.

Update

Duration 1 year on the 23rd.

Pay went up to 89,990 still getting a 10% - 20% bonus. Role has expanded, should be good to go for another year....

Next stop BI Architect, this could take a while.......

Ended up lasting ~ 2 years in BI Role.

Title: Senior Sales Analyst  (Ridiculous title, Tableau developer essentially)
Hour/wk: 40 week
Description: Tableau, Business Objects, SAP Order Systems
Company size: 50,000+
Age: 43
Duration: 3 months = Current
How: Applied company website
Certs: Tableau, Teradata Database
Education:  (Only listing Bachelors now)
Pay: 90,000  (Pay went up a tick but lost the bonus)  Insurance isn't as good either, but its for the greater good  (WFH).  Looking to transition to Jacksonville FL from the Midwest and this is part of the plan.  Once I am local down there and hopefully get a year in this role I may or may not look for another position.  My oldest is getting close to graduating high school and the UF school system looks wonderful and the cost of in-state student's is WOW.  

Late update....

Bounced on previous job after 3 months, way better opportunity besides couldn't stand the job, bait and switch.

Title:  Enterprise Architect
Age 43
Hrs a week 40 - 45
Company Size ~20,000
Duration 5 months so far
Education Masters and Bachelors
Certs Added CSM working on TOGAF
Pay 140,000 USD

Bouncing once again, actually made it 6 months!  Keep in mind this was a 3 month contract, that kept rolling every 3 months, next review cycle is Sept 1st.   0 stability, hence the high pay for the locale.

Title:  Business Systems Analyst (The role is an architect level role this company won't assign that title).  1 year contract, potential 6 months right to hire and/or could role onto another project after 1 year or....   get extended for another year.  This company as far as I understand it, will only keep you on the same project for 2 years.....

Age 44
Hrs a week 40
Company Size ~100,000
Duration Starting on the 3rd, after Labor Day (US Holiday)
Education Masters and Bachelors
Certs None recently, working on BPMN
Pay ~120,000  USD Took a pay cut

Reason moving to Jacksonville FL, from St. Louis.  Yes the family and I are VERY excited.  

Took a LARGE pay cut with Covid on the horizon I couldn't afford to remain a contractor, so I took a FTE role with benefits etc....    The pay is drastically lower, 40k lower, but I had to position myself in this new market, build up some new skills and continue to grow.  

I've noticed in regards to contracts, I average about 9 months whereas for FTE positions it's almost 2 years.   The contract position is skewed by a couple of 3 month contracts I worked in the past and the FTE numbers are skewed because one FTE position I took was a bait and switch.  Only last there 3 months.  

Age 44
Hrs a week 40
Company ~100,000
Education see above
Title (Depends which organization haha)  Financial Analyst or Supply Chain Analyst.  
Pay 40k less than above...  

Reason for taking this job, to get back into an FTE role and remain.  At my age I don't feel that bouncing around contracts is a wise idea, until I am getting ready to transition to retirement and then re consider that course of action.  Not to say I won't move to another role from the one I am in, I will but it will have to be FTE.  

Been in this role for 6 weeks.  

One more piece I failed to mention.....   My wife has been an RN for 10 years now and is back in the ER for one goal and that is to get into the CRNA program here in North Florida.  She is anticipating trying to apply this August and if not accepted this time around, then next time.  So therefore that was another reason for taking an FTE position with the hopes of getting my foot in the door and then applying to other internal position for more pay......   Maybe back up to where I was before. 

earonw49

certforexxx said:

This thread is full of job hoppers which is bad

They actually cause financial damage to the company 

As well as people who Think they are seniors but they are not 

1. Please educate yourself on proper grammar and sentence structure before you attempt to criticize someone about their career choices. 

2. A plethora of individuals in this thread have worked hard, sought opportunities and climbed ladders to get to where they are. I am unsure as to what your goal is writing your comment, but I can’t help but detect a hint of jealousy and FOMO.

3. Sit down and be humble. If you do not have anything constructive (criticism included) to say, don’t say it at all.

earonw49

certforexxx said:

earonw49 said:

certforexxx said:

This thread is full of job hoppers which is bad

They actually cause financial damage to the company 

As well as people who Think they are seniors but they are not 

1. Please educate yourself on proper grammar and sentence structure before you attempt to criticize someone about their career choices. 

2. A plethora of individuals in this thread have worked hard, sought opportunities and climbed ladders to get to where they are. I am unsure as to what your goal is writing your comment, but I can’t help but detect a hint of jealousy and FOMO.

3. Sit down and be humble. If you do not have anything constructive (criticism included) to say, don’t say it at all.

Why would i be jealous when i done better than all of them

You dont know me, so for you to judge someone based on their posts shows how dumb you are.

Definitely sounds like you have a bit of a dilemma here so I’ll leave you to it “bro”. Good luck buddy!

earonw49

certforexxx said:

earonw49 said:

certforexxx said:

earonw49 said:

certforexxx said:

This thread is full of job hoppers which is bad

They actually cause financial damage to the company 

As well as people who Think they are seniors but they are not 

1. Please educate yourself on proper grammar and sentence structure before you attempt to criticize someone about their career choices. 

2. A plethora of individuals in this thread have worked hard, sought opportunities and climbed ladders to get to where they are. I am unsure as to what your goal is writing your comment, but I can’t help but detect a hint of jealousy and FOMO.

3. Sit down and be humble. If you do not have anything constructive (criticism included) to say, don’t say it at all.

Why would i be jealous when i done better than all of them

You dont know me, so for you to judge someone based on their posts shows how dumb you are.

Definitely sounds like you have a bit of a dilemma here so I’ll leave you to it “bro”. Good luck buddy!

Sounds ?

Sounds isnt reality.

I laughed pretty hard at this one! 

earonw49

certforexxx said:

earonw49 said:

certforexxx said:

earonw49 said:

certforexxx said:

earonw49 said:

certforexxx said:

This thread is full of job hoppers which is bad

They actually cause financial damage to the company 

As well as people who Think they are seniors but they are not 

1. Please educate yourself on proper grammar and sentence structure before you attempt to criticize someone about their career choices. 

2. A plethora of individuals in this thread have worked hard, sought opportunities and climbed ladders to get to where they are. I am unsure as to what your goal is writing your comment, but I can’t help but detect a hint of jealousy and FOMO.

3. Sit down and be humble. If you do not have anything constructive (criticism included) to say, don’t say it at all.

Why would i be jealous when i done better than all of them

You dont know me, so for you to judge someone based on their posts shows how dumb you are.

Definitely sounds like you have a bit of a dilemma here so I’ll leave you to it “bro”. Good luck buddy!

Sounds ?

Sounds isnt reality.

I laughed pretty hard at this one! 

Never argue with an idiot as they will bring you down to their level and beat you with their experience !

So i will end this with a **** YOU

But have a nice day

You have yourself an awesome day, young man!

TechGromit

TechGromit said:

Title: Computer Operator
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Computer operator for AS/400 mid-frame computer
Company size: 3,000
Age: 20-something
Duration: 15 years
How: Applied and interviewed
Certs: None
Education: High School, Technical school certification in programming
Pay: $7.85/hr

Title: Senior Computer Operator / Hardware tech / System Administrator
Hours/wk: 40
Description: Various titles I held while employed at the same company over 15 years
Company size: 3,000
Age: late 30's
Duration: 15 years same company as above.
How: Promoted within same company I started with over 15 years
Certs: A+, Network +
Education: Some college, no degree.
Pay : 43k salary when I left.

Title: Engineer Specialist 4
Hours/wk: 40
Description: WSUS system Administrator
Company size: 47,000 +
Age : late 30's
Duration: 7 years
How: Former co-worker/friend recommended me.
Certs: A+, Network +
Education: Some College
Pay : $48k start, mid 60's when I left.

Title : PC Tech
Hours/wk: 50
Description: Contractor for a windows 7 deployment project
Company size: 30,000
Age: 42
Duration: 8 months
How : Job website, staffing agency I will not name
Certs: A+, Network +
Education: Some college
Pay : $20 a hour, no benefits

Title : Senior Cyber Security Analyst
Hours/wk : 40
Description: Cyber security at a major utility
Company size: 30,000
Age : Still in my 40's
Duration: 18 months and counting
How: Client employee recommendation to the right manager
Certs: A+, Network +, obtained GSEC, working on GCIH
Education: Some College
Pay: More than I ever earned before with bonuses and great benefits.

Title : Technical Analyst
Hours/wk : 40
Description: Cyber security at a major utility
Company size: 30,000
Age : 52
Duration: 5 + years
How: Promoted within company 
Certs: GSEC, GCIH, GREM
Education: Some College
Pay: On track to break 130k this year.

I think one thing that some people do not consider is location. There is someone on this site making 200k+, but Pasadena CA, the COL index is 188.6 and the housing index is 352.8, Where i live in Rochester NY, the COL is 78.4 and the Housing index is 32.5. i would seriously consider the COL before taking another offer, you might make an extra 20 or 30% salary  but be worse off if the COL is high if relocating.

Mahlalie

I wanted to chime in on this because I found this thread super encouraging when I was starting out a few years ago. 

Title: Network Technology Specialist

Age: 29

Duration: 1 yr

How: Indeed
Location: FL

Company size: < 100

Description: Primarily bench testing and factory resetting used network and telecom equipment. There was a very little bit of light desktop support, but not much at all. Some cool people, but the job sucked after the first few months. 

Certs: None

Education: Some college

Starting pay: $10/hr
Ending pay: $12/hr

Title: IT Technician

Age: 30

Duration: 2 yr

How: Indeed
Location: FL

Company size: 10

Description: JOAT at a small MSP. Servers, networking, desktop support, VoIP, POS, printers,... Learned a TON. 

Certs: A+, CCENT

Education: Some college

Starting pay: $14/hr
Ending pay: $19/hr

Title: Network Administrator

Age: 32

Duration: Starts next month 

How: Indeed
Location: NH

Company size: ~50

Description: Small, multi-branch bank. First time they've had an internal network admin. Get to do a switch hardware refresh and network segmentation early on. 

Certs: A+, CCNA

Education: A. S. in Computer IT

Starting pay: $65k/yr

Initially, the goal of my move from the mortgage industry to IT was to get a job in NH. In three years, I managed to make that happen and more than triple my income in the process. Not always fun and a lot of hard work, but it's definitely doable. 

jasonperry10

Title: Tech support Rep
Age: 26
Duration: 1 Year
Location: CO
Description: Helped customers configure Cable modems, WIFI, Routers, Satelite IRDs
Education: BS Computer Information Systems
Certs: Network+

Starting Pay: $11/Hr
Ending Pay: $11.50/Hr

Title: IT Technician/ Senior IT Technician
Age: 27
Duration: 2.5 Years
Location: CO
Description: Managed Service Provider. Provided support for multiple clients. From PBX VOIP systems, networking, Server, Client, printer maint and wiring/cabling
Education: BS CIS
Certs: Network+, Security+, Microsoft Small Business Server 2008, Digium and switchVox certs

Starting pay: 30K
Ending Pay 38K

Title: System Administrator
Age: 29
Duration: 5 Years
Location: CO
Description: Server and desktop administration. Printer maintenance
Education: MS IT cybersecurity, BS CIS
Certs: CISSP, OSCP, CEH, Linux+, Network+, Security+, ITIL V3, Microsoft Small Business Server 2008, Digium and switchVox certs

Starting Pay: 55K
Ending Pay 58K

Title: IT Systems Engineer Senior
Age: 35
Duration: 3 Years
Location: CO
Description: Provided OP Support for Multiple applications including Azure MFA, DUO, ADFS, ETC
Education: MS IT Cybersecurity, BS CIS, Specialized training in specific products
Certs: CISSP, OSCP, CEH, Linux+, Network+, Security+, ITIL V3

Starting pay: 65K
Ending Pay: 87K  - Base Salary. Bonus - Up to 30% base salary for a total of 113K

Title: IT Systems Engineer Lead
Age: 38 Years
Duration: Current
Location: CO
Description: Became SME on Password Sync, Azure MFA, DUO, ETC.
Education: MS IT Cybersecurity, BS CIS, Specialized training in Azure, and related products I support
Certs: CISSP, OSCP, CEH, Linux+, Network+, Security+, ITIL V3

Starting Pay: 101K - Base Salary. Bonus - Up to 30% base salary for a total of 131K
Ending Pay: Current

coreyb80

Title: Helpdesk
Hour/wk: 40 with on call rotation
Description: Contractor then converted to FTE
Company size: 300
Age: 33
Duration: 6 years
How: Head Hunter
Certs: None
Education: HS
Pay: Started @ $45K and ended $62K

Title: Desktop Support Engineer 
Hour/wk: 40
Description: FTE
Company size: 1000
Age: 38
Duration: Currently
How: Head Hunter
Certs: A+, Net+, Sec+, Proj+, CCNA
Education: 15 credits away from Bachelors
Pay: currently at $82K

Once I wrap up my bachelors in the next few months it'll be time to move on to greener pastures.  Great company, but opportunities limited due to company being based in the UK

SoCalGuy858

I last posted on here a bit over two years ago (October 2018) after getting laid off and then, one month later, finding a new role with a +60% raise.  Now, after two years in that role, I pivoted into a new job with the federal government.  Looking back on this, and my posts on here dating back to 2013.... it's crazy to see how things have changed!

Title: Computer Support Technician
Hour/wk: 20
Description: Computer guy and semi-tech support for local MSP with varied types of clients.
Company size: 3
Age: 18-19
Duration: 10 months
How: Knew somebody.
Certs: None
Education: High School Diploma
Pay: 13/hr

Title: Technical Support (officially: Technical Liaison)
Hour/wk: 20
Description: JOAT responsible for all end-user PCs, tech support, A/V, physical security systems, and production IT systems (PCs / label printers).
Company size: ~50 (200+ if you count non-end user production technicians).
Age: 19-20
Duration: 1.5 years
How: This company was a client of my previous company; wanted someone in-house for the non-server, non-networking stuff.
Certs: None
Education: High School Diploma
Pay: Started @ 13.50/hr, ended @ 14.25/hr

Title: Systems Administrator
Hour/wk: 40+, including after-hours on-call Monday-Monday once every ~8 weeks.
Description: JOAT w/ all of the responsibilities of the previous job, now including servers, and multiple engineering applications (SW & HW).
Company size: ~400 (supported entire enterprise but directly responsible for 100+ / ~25 servers at 3 global sites in my business unit).
Age: 20-22
Duration: 2 years
How: Knew somebody.
Certs: None when I started. Obtained Associate of (ISC)2 - SSCP (almost done w/ endorsement); A/N/S+, VCA-DCV, and 2 MTAs
Education: High School Diploma
Pay: Started @ 21.63/hr FT w/ OT (45k); Ended @ 57k salaried.

Title: Information Security Analyst
Hour/wk: 40; no on-call
Description: Newly established InfoSec department; just me at the Director; building policy framework from the ground up; personally responsible for vulnerability management and the majority of our security awareness program.
Company Size: ~400
Age: 22-23 (present)
Duration: 3.5 years
How: Previous boss (Director of IT) moved into Director of Security role and needed help.
Certs: Same as above. Company paid for SANS SEC-401, about to take the GSEC soon.
Education: Professional Certificate in Information Systems Management (local univ.); 6 credits away from AAS degree.
Pay: Started with same 57k as above and will end with a final salary of $65,000
Bonus: Got the approval to work from home, so I'll be moving across the country to a much lower COL area than I'm in now. Woot!

Title: Sr. Cyber Security Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Well-established, 65-year old mutual insurance firm that caters to rural and agriculture communities. I'll be working with their management team to improve existing security processes and separate the joint IT/security team currently in existence.
Company Size: ~3300, IT staff of ~130
Age: 26
Duration: 2 years
How: Had a working relationship with staffing firm recruiter for quite some time now and was referred based on my background.
Certs: Same as above.
Education: Professional Certificate in Information Systems Management (local univ.); Professional Certificate in Cyber Security (MIT); 10 credits away from BSCIA at WGU
Pay: $102,000
Bonus: Fully employer-funded pension (~33% of salary deposited into account per year), employer-paid health insurance premiums which you keep until 65 if you retire at 55, paid SANS training / conferences.

Title:  Threat Operations Specialist/Workstream Lead
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Incident response team member for USPS.  I perform technical duties relating to DFIR when the SHTF; support our law enforcement staff with forensics-related tasks; and also serve as a workstream/task lead responsible for our program POA&M for cyber risk remediation.
How: Applied like everyone else and almost lost out to someone with Veterans Preference; but he ended up declining.  Also, being able to pass a Tier 5/Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
Company size: 600,000
Age: 28
Duration: 1.5 weeks and counting!
Certs: CISSP, GCIH, SSCP, Project+
Education: Professional Certificate in Information Systems Management (local univ.); Professional Certificate in Cyber Security (MIT); 10 credits away from BSCIA at WGU
Pay: $110,000

Elitis

I used to look at this thread a few years back for encouragement and to see everyone's progress. I definitely do not have the most typical path but it'll be interesting to look back at this in a few years and see where I'm at.

Title: Technical Controller / Network Administrator
Hour/wk: Varied
Description: Set up, configure, troubleshoot and maintain LANs, WANs, switches, and routers. Brief senior leadership on metrics on occasion. Run cat-5 cables. USMC
How: My local recruiter's office
Company size: 180,000
Age: 18-23
Duration: 5 years
Certs: A+, Network+, Security+ at the start. CCENT, CCNA, Security+, Pentest+, eJPT, eCPPT, OSCP towards the end
Education: High School
Pay: Towards the end roughly $30k
Bonus: No real living expenses

Title: Offensive Cyber Operator (Pentester)
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Penetration testing web apps, and infrastructure for both private sector and government
How: Applying and interviewing
Company size: < 100
Duration: 2 months so far
Certs: Same as above and a security clearance
Education: Lots of lower-level credit, no degree
Pay: $100,000 
Bonus: Employer-match for 401k, Fully-Remote