Timeline: Your IT Career Progression

Shinjusn0w

Title: Tier 2 Support
Hour/Wk: 40
Location: CA
Description: Technical Support for customers telephony, internet and cable. Call Center stuff.
Company Size: Huge Enterprise
Company Type: ISP Comcast
Age: 24
Duration: 2 Years
How: Newspaper (yea that’s right young whipper snappers)
Certs: None
Education: HS Diploma
Pay: 31k w/benefits and OT

Title: Tier 3 Tech Support Lead
Hour/Wk: 40
Location: CA
Description: Technical Support and Onboarding new clients to the software/ Q & A testing.
Company Size: 100 employees or so with a decent size consumer base.
Company Type: Tax Software/ Crosslink Tax
Age: 28
Duration: seasonal (on and off for 5 years)
How: Staffing Agency
Certs: None / Degree: Studying for an AA Degree in Electrical Engineering
Education. Left with AA Degree in Electrical Engineering
Pay: 35k no benefits no OT

Title: Sr Desktop Analyst L2
Hour/Wk: 40
Location: CA
Description: Systems Admin for enterprise applications. Healthcare systems, AD usage, PC Hardware. Android and Iphone configs/ Patch panel work, cross connections/ printer repair and config/ everything you can think of besides real network configurations.
Company Size: 5k end users
Company Type: Tenet HealthCare
Age: 29
Duration: 3.5 years Current
How: Indeed
Certs: none
Education: AS Degree in Computer Science
Pay: 47k - 55K W/OT and Benefits

mattlyons

Title: Junior Software Developer
Hour/wk: 15, no on-call
Description: Basically screened calls, made how-to guides and other similar work for the lead developer.
Company Size: 3
Company Type: Logistics software
Age: 21
Duration: 5 months
Location: Charleston, SC
How: Don't remember
Certs: None
Education: Middle of BA in CSCI
Pay: $15/hr

Title: IT Assistant
Hour/wk: 15, no on-call
Description: IT department of school
Company Size: 100
Company Type: Private school
Age: 20-21
Duration: 1yr 5mo
Location: Charleston, SC
How: Don't remember
Certs: None
Education: Middle of BA in CSCI
Pay: $10/hr

Title: Technician Specialist in Customer Service
Hour/wk: 40, no on-call
Description: Processed invoices. Long story short is needed full time job because was getting married.
Company Size: 500
Company Type: DoD contracting
Age: 22-23
Duration: 8 months
Location: Charleston, SC
How: USAJobs
Certs: None
Education: BA in CSCI
Pay: $17.35/hr

Title: Computer Scientist
Hour/wk: 40, no on-call
Description: IA and information security work. Became a federal employee with Secret clearance
Company Size: 5000
Company Type: DoD agency
Age: 23-26
Duration: 3yr 6mo
Location: Charleston, SC
How: USAJobs
Certs: Security+
Education: BA in CSCI
Pay: Start $50k, End $67k

Title: Network Engineer 3
Hour/wk: 40, no on-call
Description: IA and information security work. Same project as above, just moved to DoD contractor
Company Size: 19,700
Company Type: DoD contractor
Age: 26-28
Duration: 2yr 1mo
Location: Charleston, SC
How: New someone
Certs: Security+, CISSP 5 months prior to departure
Education: BA in CSCI
Pay: Start $83k, End $96k

Title: Information Systems Security Manager
Hour/wk: 40, no on-call
Description: RMF ATOs
Company Size: 131,000
Company Type: A little bit of everything but I work in DoD contracting. I'm not a contractor though
Age: 28
Duration: 6 months and currently employed
Location: Minneapolis, MN
How: Indeed.com
Certs: Security+, CISSP and studying for 70-697/70-698 for Windows 10 cert
Education: BA in CSCI
Pay: $100k

debugme

Title: Information Systems Tech - IT2
Hour/wk: ??
Description: US Navy
Age: 21-25
Duration: 4
How: Recruiting Office lol
Certs: Sec+ and CCNA
Education: High School
Pay: E-5 Pay + plus San Diego,CA BAH. Was like 4k a month after taxes my last 2 years in.

Title: Network Specialist
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Federal Contractor
Company size: 10k
Age: 25
Duration: 2 Months
Certs: CCNA and Sec+
Pay: $75k


Title: Network Engineer
Hours: 40 per week
Company Size: cant say
Age:25
Location:DC Metro area
How: Indeed
Certs: CCNA and Sec+ , but also persuing my CCNP full time and studying RHCSA on the side..
Pay: 100k

Going for my CCIE eventually

Spiegel

Title: Tech Support I
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Telecommunications; provided esupport for Internet and IPTV (via chat) to residential users
Company size: <50k+
Location: Apopka, FL
Duration: 1 Year
Age: 27
How: Contract
Certs: 0
Education: Some College (Was attending ITT Tech )
Pay: $10 - $11 per hour
_______________________________________________

Title: Service Desk Analyst - Tier 1
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Managed Services;provide end user computing support for medical and non-medical staff in our health organization. In-bound calls.
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Duration: 1 year and 8 months
Company size: <80k+
Age: 28
How: Via Indeed, hired on directly full time
Certs: A+, Network +, ITIL
Education: Some College (Left ITT Tech at this point )
Pay: $19 per hour
_______________________________________________

Title: Service Desk Analyst - Tier 2
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Managed Services;provide end user computing support for medical and non-medical staff in our health organization. My Tier 2 elevation provided more access and we did out-bound calling which brought flexibility to do more indepth troubleshooting to resolve.
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Duration: 9 months
Company size: <80k+
Age: 30
How: Promoted
Certs: A+, Network +, ITIL
Education: Some College (Started my WGU journey for my B.S. in Info. Tech. - Sec.)
Pay: $20 per hour
_______________________________________________


Title: End User Computing - Intermediate
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Managed Services;provide end user computing support for medical and non-medical staff in our health organization. Doing field tech/desktop support work on our hospital premises
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Duration: Current
Company size: <80k+
Age: 31
How: Promoted
Certs: A+, Network +, Security +, ITIL, MTA, CIW
Education: Some College (Working on BS)
Pay: $23 per hour
_______________________________________________


Hoping to get a network analyst position early next year within the company after I complete my Cisco certs

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

Spiegel wrote: »

Title: Tech Support I
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Telecommunications; provided esupport for Internet and IPTV (via chat) to residential users
Company size: <50k+
Location: Apopka, FL
Duration: 1 Year
Age: 27
How: Contract
Certs: 0
Education: Some College (Was attending ITT Tech )
Pay: $10 - $11 per hour
_______________________________________________

Title: Service Desk Analyst - Tier 1
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Managed Services;provide end user computing support for medical and non-medical staff in our health organization. In-bound calls.
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Duration: 1 year and 8 months
Company size: <80k+
Age: 28
How: Via Indeed, hired on directly full time
Certs: A+, Network +, ITIL
Education: Some College (Left ITT Tech at this point )
Pay: $19 per hour
_______________________________________________

Title: Service Desk Analyst - Tier 2
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Managed Services;provide end user computing support for medical and non-medical staff in our health organization. My Tier 2 elevation provided more access and we did out-bound calling which brought flexibility to do more indepth troubleshooting to resolve.
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Duration: 9 months
Company size: <80k+
Age: 30
How: Promoted
Certs: A+, Network +, ITIL
Education: Some College (Started my WGU journey for my B.S. in Info. Tech. - Sec.)
Pay: $20 per hour
_______________________________________________


Title: End User Computing - Intermediate
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Managed Services;provide end user computing support for medical and non-medical staff in our health organization. Doing field tech/desktop support work on our hospital premises
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Duration: Current
Company size: <80k+
Age: 31
How: Promoted
Certs: A+, Network +, Security +, ITIL, MTA, CIW
Education: Some College (Working on BS)
Pay: $23 per hour
_______________________________________________


Hoping to get a network analyst position early next year within the company after I complete my Cisco certs

Small world. I too am from the Apopka/Altamonte area.

techie2018

Wow so many young professionals(25 to 30 y/o) already making 75k to 100k or more. Keep up the good work everyone.

albinorhino187

Title: IT Support Specialist
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Warehouse/manufacturing
Company size: ~300
Age: 27
Duration: 5yr
How: Knew someone
Certs: A+, Net+, Sec+
Education: AS
Start Pay: $18/hr
End Pay: $21.50/hr

Title: IT Specialist
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Warehouse/manufacturing
Company size: ~300
Age: 33
Duration: 9 months
How: Promoted
Certs: A+, Net+, Sec+, CCNA
Education: Working on BS
Pay: $48k + 8% annual bonus

Title: Jr Network Enginner
Hour/wk: 40
Description: State Government
Company size: 500+
Age: 33
Duration: 1 year and counting
How: Applied online, beat 400+ applicants
Certs: A+, Net+, Sec+, Project+, Linux+, CCNA R/S, CCNA Security
Education: BS
Pay: Start $55k. Previous job offered 75k to come back 6 months later, but current job matched, so 75k now.

Neil86

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

ps.89

Title: Helpdesk Technician T1
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Small MSP
Company size: >20
Age: 25
Duration: 1.5 yrs
How: Craigslist
Certs: None
Education: High School - in college
Pay: $14/hr




Title: Helpdesk Technician T2
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Medium sized corporation
Company size: <5,000
Age: 27
Duration: 2 yrs
How: Indeed
Certs: None
Education: Obtained BS in Computer Networking mid-way
Pay: $26/hr




Title: NOC Technician
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Large enterprise (Fortune 500)
Company size: <40,000
Age: 29
Duration: >1 mos
How: Recruitment agency
Certs: None
Education: BS. Computer Networking
Pay: $70k/yr

futurehendrix

I still have a long way to go but this thread has definitely humbled me while also motivating me.

Title: Tier 1 Help Desk Intern
Hour/wk: ~40
Description: Intern for a startup company so did a lot of the minutia from running cables, helping set up computers and monitors, drafting policy/company handbook and break fixes.
Company size: ~10 employees that serviced ~500 users
Age: 19
Duration: 3 months
How: Applied on Internship.com and got the job.
Certs: I didn't even know what they were at this point so no.
Education: Some college (four semesters)
Pay: -$5/day + -$20/week. It was unpaid and twenty minutes from my house so I'd get on the highway and pay $5 a day in toll as well as gas.


Title: Support Analyst
Hour/wk: 25
Description: Help desk. Worst job ever. Call center like environment so if you had to go to the bathroom, you had to let everyone know.
Company size: ~2000
Age: 19
Duration: 3 months
How: Reached out by recruiter
Certs: None
Education: Some college (five semesters)
Pay: $13/hr (I thought I was balllllllling!)

Title: IT Intern
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Summer intern for a mid level company
Company size: ~3500
Age: 20
Duration: 6 months
How: Applied online among literally 100+, interviewed and crushed it (I had like ten terrible interviews beforehand and was surprised by how well I did)
Certs: None
Education: Some College (Junior Year)
Pay: $15/hr (once again, I thought I was making cash money young money cash money)

Title: Network Security Analyst
Hour/wk: ~40
Description: Day to day threat response, SIEM monitoring (isn't that redundant?), etc...
Company size: ~5000
Age: 21
Duration: 1 year
How: Knew someone
Certs: GCIA
Education: Some College (Senior Year)
Pay: $50k (I got to put my bills on autopay so i mean I'm rich now, right?)

My goal is to reach six figures by 25 so still got ways to go

SpetsRepair

2014- Small IT contracts short time work
2015- Get hired on to It helpdesk support
Lose job because customer complained about me being rude
Get job offer in my town, tell them I have another offer right now in a different state and need to know right now if you're offering me the job or not
Drive to another state, took the other job offer
While driving to other state, get a call. Was told hey they will give you the job. Working at Dell in California a few minutes from where I lived but I specifically told them I have an opportunity of a life time somewhere ele and I need to know asap if they will give me the job so they get angry I didn't take the job at dell working on their firewall line/security stuff
2015-2016 Same company, moved up really quick in this field since I moved there, took the job and within 3 months I could do just about everything since I already had some certs and knowledge
Promoted, got bored after a while
2017 - Took another job offer, way above my knowledge/skill level and they offered it to me anyway
Still at this company today

Total career progression was from 2015-2018.
2014 was kind of bad since they promise you work and only have one month contract

2015- 2017 65k
2017-2018 100k+

The thing that changed my life was actually the Cisco certs

Ismaeljrp

Couldn't find whether I had a post here or not so here's a new one. I feel posting the locations of the jobs is very useful, as it helps job seekers get an idea on salaries for particular locations and types of jobs.


Title: NOC Technician
Hour/wk: 40-50
Description: NOC tech 1, then tier 2, and system admin and network admin/engineer. Pretty much JOAT. It was a VAR/MSP/ISP
Company size: ~50
Age: 27-31
Duration: 4 yrs 3 months (last 6 months worked remote)
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: CCNA
Education: Some college (senior)
Pay: $12/hr ended at 15/hr
Location: Puerto Rico
Experience when starting: 4 month internship




Title: Network Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Cisco Network Engineer with some VMware networking for a Insurance/Risk management company.
Company size: ~800
Age: 31
Duration: just started
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: CCNA/VCP5
Education: Some college (senior)
Pay: Base 65k per year
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: about 4.5 years

techie2018

Title: Helpdesk
Hour/wk: 40
Description: answering phones, password resets, basic PC/applications support, etc
Company size: 10000+
Age: 22
Duration: 1 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: MCSE
Education: Some college
Pay: 42k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: none




Title: NOC Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: jr system admin type work on linux and windows
Company size: 10000+
Age: 23
Duration: 3 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: MCSE
Education: Some college
Pay: 47k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 1 year






Title: Systems Admin
Hour/wk: 40
Description: maintain and support linux servers
Company size: 10000+
Age: 26
Duration: 2 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: none
Education: Some college
Pay: 55k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 4 years




Title: Systems Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: design and architect linux servers solutions
Company size: 10000+
Age: 28
Duration: 2 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: RHCE
Education: Some college
Pay: 75k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 6 years




Title: Network Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network troubleshooting, router configs etc
Company size: 10000+
Age: 30
Duration: 3 year
How: I was already a systems engineer at company and had a good reputation and made the right connections
Certs: CCNP
Education: Some college
Pay: 85k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 8 years




Title: Senior Network Engineer, team lead
Hour/wk: 40
Description: team lead for network engineering group
Company size: 10000+
Age: 33
Duration: 5 year
How: promoted from previous job
Certs: CCNP
Education: Some college
Pay: 110k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 11 years




Title: Network Architect
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network design, consult with customers
Company size: 5000+
Age: 38
Duration: 4 years
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: CCIE, R/S
Education: B.S.C.E - Computer Engineering
Pay: 145k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 16 years






Title: Network Architect, Principal
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network design, lead a team of network engineers and architects
Company size: 10000+
Age: 42
Duration: current job about 5 months so far
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: 3X CCIE - R/S, Data Center, Security
Education: B.S.C.E - Computer Engineering
Pay: Base 225k per year + bonus/stock, etc
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 20 years


Next goals...complete my Masters or MBA...still debating, also I've enjoyed my "hands on" tech career but next I'm going for management positions(director or VP) will be my goal. As I have pretty much "maxed out" my salary as a technical contributer.

Ismaeljrp

techie2018 wrote: »

Title: Helpdesk
Hour/wk: 40
Description: answering phones, password resets, basic PC/applications support, etc
Company size: 10000+
Age: 22
Duration: 1 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: MCSE
Education: Some college
Pay: 42k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: none




Title: NOC Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: jr system admin type work on linux and windows
Company size: 10000+
Age: 23
Duration: 3 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: MCSE
Education: Some college
Pay: 47k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 1 year






Title: Systems Admin
Hour/wk: 40
Description: maintain and support linux servers
Company size: 10000+
Age: 26
Duration: 2 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: none
Education: Some college
Pay: 55k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 4 years




Title: Systems Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: design and architect linux servers solutions
Company size: 10000+
Age: 28
Duration: 2 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: RHCE
Education: Some college
Pay: 75k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 6 years




Title: Network Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network troubleshooting, router configs etc
Company size: 10000+
Age: 30
Duration: 3 year
How: I was already a systems engineer at company and had a good reputation and made the right connections
Certs: CCNP
Education: Some college
Pay: 85k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 8 years




Title: Senior Network Engineer, team lead
Hour/wk: 40
Description: team lead for network engineering group
Company size: 10000+
Age: 33
Duration: 5 year
How: promoted from previous job
Certs: CCNP
Education: Some college
Pay: 110k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 11 years




Title: Network Architect
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network design, consult with customers
Company size: 5000+
Age: 38
Duration: 4 years
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: CCIE, R/S
Education: B.S.C.E - Computer Engineering
Pay: 145k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 16 years






Title: Network Architect, Principal
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network design, lead a team of network engineers and architects
Company size: 10000+
Age: 42
Duration: current job about 5 months so far
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: 3X CCIE - R/S, Data Center, Security
Education: B.S.C.E - Computer Engineering
Pay: Base 225k per year + bonus/stock, etc
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 20 years


Next goals...complete my Masters or MBA...still debating, also I've enjoyed my "hands on" tech career but next I'm going for management positions(director or VP) will be my goal. As I have pretty much "maxed out" my salary as a technical contributer.

Wow! Really outstanding techie2018. It's really inspiring to see these types of career progression stories. Well, not a story, but kinda feels that way sometimes.

Are you on twitter or linkedin by any chance?

and1play5

techie2018 wrote: »

Title: Helpdesk
Hour/wk: 40
Description: answering phones, password resets, basic PC/applications support, etc
Company size: 10000+
Age: 22
Duration: 1 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: MCSE
Education: Some college
Pay: 42k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: none




Title: NOC Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: jr system admin type work on linux and windows
Company size: 10000+
Age: 23
Duration: 3 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: MCSE
Education: Some college
Pay: 47k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 1 year






Title: Systems Admin
Hour/wk: 40
Description: maintain and support linux servers
Company size: 10000+
Age: 26
Duration: 2 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: none
Education: Some college
Pay: 55k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 4 years




Title: Systems Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: design and architect linux servers solutions
Company size: 10000+
Age: 28
Duration: 2 year
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: RHCE
Education: Some college
Pay: 75k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 6 years




Title: Network Engineer
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network troubleshooting, router configs etc
Company size: 10000+
Age: 30
Duration: 3 year
How: I was already a systems engineer at company and had a good reputation and made the right connections
Certs: CCNP
Education: Some college
Pay: 85k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 8 years




Title: Senior Network Engineer, team lead
Hour/wk: 40
Description: team lead for network engineering group
Company size: 10000+
Age: 33
Duration: 5 year
How: promoted from previous job
Certs: CCNP
Education: Some college
Pay: 110k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 11 years




Title: Network Architect
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network design, consult with customers
Company size: 5000+
Age: 38
Duration: 4 years
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: CCIE, R/S
Education: B.S.C.E - Computer Engineering
Pay: 145k
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 16 years






Title: Network Architect, Principal
Hour/wk: 40
Description: network design, lead a team of network engineers and architects
Company size: 10000+
Age: 42
Duration: current job about 5 months so far
How: applied and interviewed
Certs: 3X CCIE - R/S, Data Center, Security
Education: B.S.C.E - Computer Engineering
Pay: Base 225k per year + bonus/stock, etc
Location: Atlanta
Experience when starting: 20 years


Next goals...complete my Masters or MBA...still debating, also I've enjoyed my "hands on" tech career but next I'm going for management positions(director or VP) will be my goal. As I have pretty much "maxed out" my salary as a technical contributer.

Great progression...very inspiring...def gonna get back on my cert study wave now

MasterofNone

Title: computer lab assistant
Hour/wk: 20
Description: University
Company size: N/a
Age: 26
Duration: 6 months
How: Asked manager if he was hiring.
Certs: None
Education: Some college
Pay: $8/Hour



Title: Help Desk
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Contract. Level 1 support.
Company size: 10,000+
Age: 26
Duration: 1.5 years
How: Indeed
Certs: None, left with Sec+
Education: B.S in BS
Pay: $15//Hour



Title: Security Analyst
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Contract. IAM, Incident Response, and Vuln Mgmt.
Company size: 10,000+ people
Age: 27
Duration: 8 months
How: Indeed
Certs: Same
Education: Same
Pay: $28.50/hr




Title: Security Analyst
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Contract, short term. Vuln Mgmt.
Company size: 10,000+ people
Age: 28
Duration: 3 months
How: Headhunter
Certs: Same
Education: Same
Pay: $90/hr



Title: Security Consultant
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Consulting.
Company size: 10,000+ people
Age: 29
Duration: 6 months (Current)
How: Applied
Certs: Added CCNA
Education: Same
Pay: $105k



Advice: Find 5 rockstar posters on any forum. Read through their post history. Model yourself after them. Apply their good habits daily. Lab. Lab. Lab. Ymmv.

Kyrak

Kyrak wrote: »

I've enjoyed this thread and it helped motivate me so I'll throw my hat in the ring.

Title: Network Administrator
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 150
Age: 22
Duration: 1 years
How: Newspaper ad (remember those? haha)
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $35K

Title: Network Administrator
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 73K, but only 50 in my office
Age: 24
Duration: 3 years
How: Can't even remember
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $50K

Title: Regional Technology Manager
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 1000
Age: 27
Duration: 3 years
How: Employee Referral
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: Start $67K-> End $72K

I then have a 10 year gap running my own businesses loosely related to IT, web design, affiliate marketing, etc
Pay: Variable from 0 - 20K a month but priceless experiences!

Title: Field Service Engineer for MSP
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 15
Age: 41
Duration: 1 years
How: LinkedIn
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $52K
At this point I absolutely hated this job so ended up quitting without a new position (don't make this same mistake I did!). When I wasn't getting enough interviews I decided I had to change something and focused on certifications so that would never be the reason I didn't get an interview I wanted.

Title: System Engineer II
Hour/wk: 60
Company Size: 4K
Age: 42
Duration: 1.5 years
How: Referral from a guy I met in cert training classes!
Certs: PMP, VCP5-DCV, A+,N+, CCNA, MCSA 2012, ITIL
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: Start $85K ->End $93K

Title: Security Engineer II
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 4K (Lateral move at same company)
Age: 44
Duration: current
How: Company Transfer
Certs: CCNA R&S/Security, CISSP, A+, N+, S+, MCSE CP&I, VCP5/6-DCV, ITIL
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $93K

I'm expecting my next move to the the big one I've been working towards. We will see!

BOOM! Hard work pays off.
Title: Senior Security Architect
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 30K
Age: 45
Duration: current
How: External recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn
Certs: CISSP, PMP, CCNA R&S/Security/Cyber Ops, MCSE CP&I, VCP5/6-DCV, ITIL, A+, N+, S+
Education: B.S. Computer Science & Economics
Pay: $100/hr (40 hours a week but only 4 days) travel contract (initial term 6 mos), all expenses paid + $50 per diem for food.

RHEL

Title: Tech Support Analyst
Hour/wk: 20
Description: ISP support for residential and commercial customers
Company size: <75
Age: 18-20
Duration: <2 years
How: Applied and interviewed
Certs: None
Education: High School - in college
Pay: $8-9/hr

Title: IT Specialist (part time)
Hours/wk: 20
Description: Special projects and general IT support for state government organization. Had my own office and full benefits!
Company size: 500+
Age: 20-21
Duration: <1 year
How: Found in paper, applied and interviewed
Certs: None
Education: High School - in college
Pay : $16/hr

Title: IT Specialist (seasonal)
Hours/wk: 15
Description: General IT support for major university
Company size: 3,000
Age : 22
Duration: 3 months
How: Networking contact
Certs: None
Education: High School - in college
Pay : $14/hr

Title : Network Administrator (seasonal)
Hours/wk: 80+
Description: "IT guy" supporting 100+ workstations! servers! devices over summer. Taught linux workshops!
Company size: <100
Age: 23
Duration: 1-2 months
How : Craigslist!
Certs: None
Education: High School - in college
Pay : lodging and food in Boston, and a small chunk of change

Title : Systems Administrator
Hours/wk : 40 + on-call
Description: First job out of college. Learning to be an admin in hundreds of servers for a global conglomerate. Great benefits, funded my grad school 100%.
Company size: 250,000
Age : 23
Duration: 2.5 years
How: Monster.com app and single phone interview
Certs: None
Education: BA in unrelated field
Pay: 30's -- though low cost of living area

Title: Systems Engineer
Hours/wk: 40 + on-call
Description: Got to play a much larger role for a smaller organization. Really cool environment. -- casinos, resort, hotels, golf courses, gas stations, police, fire, rescue, government.
Company size: 5,000
Age: 26-28
Duration: 1.5 years
How: Networking, interviewed
Certs: Linux+, LPIC-1, Novell CLA, Novell DCTS
Education: BA in unrelated field, MS CIS
Pay: 60's

Title: Systems Administrator
Hours/wk: 40 + on-call
Description: Systems support, duh! Regional employer, lots of high tech to play with.
Company size: 6,000
Age: 28
Duration: 3 years
How: company website
Certs: Linux+, LPIC-1, Novell CLA, Novell DCTS
Education: BA in unrelated field, MS CIS
Pay: 70's

Title: Unix/Security SME/adviser
Hours/wk: 40, no on call
Description: strategy, design, proof of concepts, engineering documentation
Company size: 6,000
Age: 31
Duration: 1.5 years
How: internal, promotion
Certs: RHCE, RHCSA
Education: BA in unrelated field, MS CIS
Pay: 90’s

Title: Sr. Engineer
Hours/wk: 40 (remote)
Description: design, implementation, documentation of enterprise solutions
Age: 33
Duration: present
How: company website
Certs: RHCE, RHCSA, Ansible Specialist
Education: BA is unrelated field, MS CIS
Pay: 165K + benes

LeBroke

RHEL wrote: »

Title: Unix/Security SME/adviser
Hours/wk: 40, no on call
Description: strategy, design, proof of concepts, engineering documentation
Company size: 6,000
Age: 31
Duration: 1.5 years
How: internal, promotion
Certs: RHCE, RHCSA
Education: BA in unrelated field, MS CIS
Pay: 90’s

Title: Sr. Engineer
Hours/wk: 40 (remote)
Description: design, implementation, documentation of enterprise solutions
Age: 33
Duration: present
How: company website
Certs: RHCE, RHCSA, Ansible Specialist
Education: BA is unrelated field, MS CIS
Pay: 165K + benes

Damn, quite a big jump in 2 years. Congrats man! Happy for you

Squished

LeBroke wrote: »

Damn, quite a big jump in 2 years. Congrats man! Happy for you

I was thinking the same thing. Hard works pay off and I hope to do the same thing soon. Nice work!

SoCalGuy858

I posted over a year ago after receiving an offer from a defense contractor which would've given me a 66% raise, only to learn the harsh reality of the contracting world... the contractor may hire you on, but if the customer doesn't like your resume... you're not going anywhere!

Fortunately, 14 months later, I've got a new offer in hand from a permanent gig that is just as awesome!

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: 6 months and going....
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!

Received offer for the following job and going to be starting next Monday:

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: T-6 days to first day!
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: $105,000
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.

eansdad

Title: 02L – US Army
Hour/wk: All
Description: Saxophone player but helped take care of IT support duties for unit, built unit website
Company size: Large
Age: 20-22
Duration: 2 years
How: Was volunteered by platoon leader because I had a PC (in 1997)
Pay: E-4

Title: Configuration Tech worked up to Assistant team Lead
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Configured and built servers for Compaq
Company size: Large
Age: 24-26
Duration: 1.5 years
How: Applied directly
Pay: $10/hr on night shift

Title: Deployment Technician worked up to various Team Lead positions
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Worked several deployments for NMCI project
Company size: Large
Age: 26-27
Duration: 1.5 years
How: Applied after layoff from Compaq after merger with HP, Friend from Compaq got me in with him
Pay: $18/hr

Title: Desktop Support
Hour/wk: 60+
Description: Support for a large university hospital
Company size: Large
Age: 27
Duration: 2 months
How: Applied, Monster
Pay: $20/hr

Title: Desktop Support
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Desktop support for NMCI project site
Company size: Large
Age: 27-29
Duration: 2 years
How: Applied through Careerbuilder, used contacts from deployment days
Pay: $20/hr, paid for benefits

Title: Computer Technician
Hour/wk: 40
Description: All IT needs within the 2 schools I am scheduled at
Company size: 2500 staff, 10000 students
Age: 29-39
Duration: 8 years
How: Applied directly
Pay: $34k start +benefits - Ended at $48k

Title: Senior Solutions Engineer
Hour/wk: 40+
Description: Everything from answer phones to projects at a small MSP
Company size: 5, 40ish clients 700 machines
Age: 40
Duration: 1yr
How: Friend
Pay: $42k /yr + $2500 signing bonus

Title: IT Consultant
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Work at a very large MSP with about 470 clients with 1150 locations and over 15k machines in several countries around the world. Deal with all issues that come in to support and issues our support causes.
Company Size: 300+ (105 in IT support)
Age: 40-current
Duration: 2.5years and running
Pay: $48,500 starting - a few 3% raises and a $7500 bonus /yr for working nights. Also have Certification reimbursment, $2500/yr tuition assistance, normal healthcare and 401k.

earonw49

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.

DatabaseHead

futurehendrix said:

I still have a long way to go but this thread has definitely humbled me while also motivating me.

Title: Tier 1 Help Desk Intern
Hour/wk: ~40
Description: Intern for a startup company so did a lot of the minutia from running cables, helping set up computers and monitors, drafting policy/company handbook and break fixes.
Company size: ~10 employees that serviced ~500 users
Age: 19
Duration: 3 months
How: Applied on Internship.com and got the job.
Certs: I didn't even know what they were at this point so no.
Education: Some college (four semesters)
Pay: -$5/day + -$20/week. It was unpaid and twenty minutes from my house so I'd get on the highway and pay $5 a day in toll as well as gas.


Title: Support Analyst
Hour/wk: 25
Description: Help desk. Worst job ever. Call center like environment so if you had to go to the bathroom, you had to let everyone know.
Company size: ~2000
Age: 19
Duration: 3 months
How: Reached out by recruiter
Certs: None
Education: Some college (five semesters)
Pay: $13/hr (I thought I was balllllllling!)

Title: IT Intern
Hour/wk: 40
Description: Summer intern for a mid level company
Company size: ~3500
Age: 20
Duration: 6 months
How: Applied online among literally 100+, interviewed and crushed it (I had like ten terrible interviews beforehand and was surprised by how well I did)
Certs: None
Education: Some College (Junior Year)
Pay: $15/hr (once again, I thought I was making cash money young money cash money)

Title: Network Security Analyst
Hour/wk: ~40
Description: Day to day threat response, SIEM monitoring (isn't that redundant?), etc...
Company size: ~5000
Age: 21
Duration: 1 year
How: Knew someone
Certs: GCIA
Education: Some College (Senior Year)
Pay: $50k (I got to put my bills on autopay so i mean I'm rich now, right?)

My goal is to reach six figures by 25 so still got ways to go

Love to see the hopping strategy working well.  It was always one of my favorites.  It always felt liberating and like I was in control.  Keep up the good work!

DatabaseHead

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.  

Kyrak

Kyrak said:

Kyrak wrote: »

I've enjoyed this thread and it helped motivate me so I'll throw my hat in the ring.

Title: Network Administrator
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 150
Age: 22
Duration: 1 years
How: Newspaper ad (remember those? haha)
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $35K

Title: Network Administrator
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 73K, but only 50 in my office
Age: 24
Duration: 3 years
How: Can't even remember
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $50K

Title: Regional Technology Manager
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 1000
Age: 27
Duration: 3 years
How: Employee Referral
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: Start $67K-> End $72K

I then have a 10 year gap running my own businesses loosely related to IT, web design, affiliate marketing, etc
Pay: Variable from 0 - 20K a month but priceless experiences!

Title: Field Service Engineer for MSP
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 15
Age: 41
Duration: 1 years
How: LinkedIn
Certs: None
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $52K
At this point I absolutely hated this job so ended up quitting without a new position (don't make this same mistake I did!). When I wasn't getting enough interviews I decided I had to change something and focused on certifications so that would never be the reason I didn't get an interview I wanted.

Title: System Engineer II
Hour/wk: 60
Company Size: 4K
Age: 42
Duration: 1.5 years
How: Referral from a guy I met in cert training classes!
Certs: PMP, VCP5-DCV, A+,N+, CCNA, MCSA 2012, ITIL
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: Start $85K ->End $93K

Title: Security Engineer II
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 4K (Lateral move at same company)
Age: 44
Duration: current
How: Company Transfer
Certs: CCNA R&S/Security, CISSP, A+, N+, S+, MCSE CP&I, VCP5/6-DCV, ITIL
Education: B.S. Computer Science
Pay: $93K

I'm expecting my next move to the the big one I've been working towards. We will see!

BOOM! Hard work pays off.
Title: Senior Security Architect
Hour/wk: 40
Company Size: 70K
Age: 45
Duration: current
How: External recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn
Certs: CISSP, PMP, CCNA R&S/Security/Cyber Ops, MCSE CP&I, VCP5/6-DCV, ITIL, A+, N+, S+
Education: B.S. Computer Science & Economics
Pay: $100/hr (40 hours a week but only 4 days) travel contract (initial term 6 mos), all expenses paid + $50 per diem for food.

Title: Senior Security Architect
Hour/wk: 40
Company size: 70K+ 
Age: 45
Duration: Current
How: Contract to perm from the last position
Certs: CISSP, PMP, MCSE CP&I, CCNAX3, VCPX2, ITIL, A+, N+, S+
Pay: 175K+5K sign on bonus, fully remote too. 

Jove

Update to previous title and new role:
Title: Cyber Security Project Manager (IT Security Designer)
Hours/wk: 40 hours (no on call support)
Description: I.T. Security Designer for the Department of Defense
Company Size: ~40,000
Age: 35-37
How: Applied Online
Certs: CEHv9, A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, Linux+, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations.
Education: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
Security Clearance: Yes (full scope)
Pay: $96,000


Title: System Vulnerability Analyst
Hours/wk: 40 hours
Description: Finding and mitigating vulnerabilities in wireless networking products for DoD.
Company size: ~40,000
Age: 37-Present
How: Internal vacancy.
Certs: eJPT, CEHv9, Security+, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations, Network+, Server+, A+
Educations: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
Pay: $100,000/year

Jove said:

Title: Web Programmer
Hours: 20 hour/week
Description: Web Programmer for Computer Science Department.
Company Size: Unknown
Age: 22-24
Duration (2002-2005) 3 Years
How: Applied in person.
Certs: None
Education: Pursed B.S. in Information Technology
Pay: $9/hour

Title: I.T. Technician
Hours/wk: 40 plus on call support.
Description: I.T. Desktop Support/IT Manager/System Administrator/Network Administrator/Security Administrator, for a Nursing Home.
Company Size: 300 employees, (20 Servers, 200 computers)
Age: 25-31
Duration: (2005-2014) 9 years
How: Volunteered for 6 months after college until I accepted a full time I.T. position.
Certs: A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, CCENT, CCNA, CCNA Security, VMWare 5.0, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations.
Education: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
Pay: $39,000 to $48,000


Title: I.T. Technician
Hours/wk: 40 hours (no on call support)
Description: IT Helpdesk Support for State of Michigan
Company Size: 300
Age: 31-35
Duration: (2014-2017) 2.5 years
How: Applied online.
Certs: A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, Linux+, CCENT, CCNA, CCNA Security, VMWare 5.0, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations.
Education: Education: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
Pay: $46,000 to $49,000


Title: IT Security Designer
Hours/wk: 40 hours (no on call support)
Description: I.T. Security Designer for the Department of Defense
Company Size: ~40,000
Age: 35-Present
How: Applied Online
Certs: CEHv9, A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, Linux+, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations.
Education: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
Security Clearance: Yes (full scope)
Pay: $96,000

SoCalGuy858

SoCalGuy858 said:

Just accepted a new job offer that gives me a 66% bump in base salary and puts me over the six-figure mark... at the age of 25!

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: 6 months and going....
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!

Received offer for the following job and going to be figuring out a start date soon:

Title: Staff Information Assurance Engineer
Hour/wk: 40 (per discussions with management); not an on-call type thing
Description: Supporting the overall security architecture of a very large US Gov't entity with national IT functions HQ'd here in Raleigh
Company Size: ~126,000
Age: 25
Duration: Starting in a few weeks!
How: Applied for ~10 positions on a newly announced federal contract; did one phone panel interview for all jobs, and was selected for one a few weeks later!
Certs: CISSP, GSEC, SSCP, Network+, A+
Education: Two professional certificates and ~70 credits into by BSCIA at WGU
Pay: $108,000

Well -- this was quite some time ago and I thought I updated this, but I guess I hadn't!

As it turned out, I jumped the gun with the announcement above.  The contracting company hired me on and gave me an offer letter (woohoo!), but it turns out the client (large federal agency... something, something... nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow) didn't actually like my resume.  That was my first intro to government contracting... awesome!

No fear... I got laid off a bit over a year after I made the original post, leading to a search and a new opportunity that also put me at the six-figure mark (detailed here last October).  I've happily been with my new company for ~8 months and counting now.

Title: Senior Cyber Security Engineer
Hour/wk: 40 hours a week
Description: Regional insurance firm w/ $2.1B in assets.  Hired on as a security SME with broad experience; our company has great support for security initiatives, but our team is still small (part of the Network & Security Team with myself as the senior engineer and one junior security analyst); I'm working on expanding, integrating, and optimizing our various security programs, including everything from SecOps/SIEM/IR to Security Education and Data Security to Endpoint Protection.... Basically a more senior JOAT than the previous; doing everything from authoring policies, briefing and pitching to executives, on down to the technical implementation of various systems.
Company Size: ~3200
Age: 26 (now 27)
Duration: 8 months and counting
How: Heard about them from a headhunter I was working with after a layoff; all hiring at this org is done through third parties on a 3-month contract to permanent basis
Certs: CISSP, GCIH, ECIH, SSCP, Project+
Education: Two professional certificates and ~110 credits into by BSCIA at WGU
Pay: $100,000; 100% employer funded insurance premiums; 70% pension @ 30 years with 0 employer contribution required (initial basic benefit vests at 5 years service)

DatabaseHead

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

Z0sickx

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