IT Jobs in the USA (2025): What's Happening in Tech Right Now -

IT jobs are simply information technology jobs. The IT job market in 2025 is weird. Really weird.

On one hand, companies are desperate for skilled tech workers—especially in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure. Job postings talk about massive skill gaps and competition for talent. On the other hand, tech unemployment hit 5.7% earlier this year, layoffs keep happening, and entry-level candidates are sending out hundreds of applications without getting interviews.

Both of these things are true simultaneously, and if you’re trying to find IT jobs right now, you need to understand why.

The short version: demand for tech skills is strong, but it’s incredibly selective. Companies want experienced specialists in hot areas, not generalists or people fresh out of boot camps. AI is legitimately changing what kinds of roles exist and what skills matter. Some IT jobs are booming. Others are quietly disappearing. The middle ground is shrinking.

Let’s talk about what’s really happening in IT jobs right now—which roles are actually hiring, what skills genuinely matter, where the risks are, and how to position yourself for success instead of getting crushed in a crowded field.

The Current IT Job Market: Why It Feels So Contradictory

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects computer and IT jobs will grow “much faster than average” through 2034, with about 317,700 job openings annually. That sounds great until you look closer at which jobs are growing and which aren’t.

Tech job growth is polarizing. AI and machine learning roles are exploding. Cybersecurity can’t hire fast enough. Cloud engineers are still in high demand. Data scientists and engineers remain valuable. These specialized roles are seeing real growth, and companies are competing for qualified people.

Meanwhile, traditional IT support roles, basic web development positions, and junior software engineering jobs are getting squeezed. Some of this is AI automation—tools can now handle tasks that used to require people. Also, some of it is companies are raising the bar for entry-level positions, expecting more experience and skills than they used to. Some of it is just economic uncertainty, making companies cautious about hiring.

The result is a two-tier job market. If you’re skilled in the right areas, you have options and leverage. If you’re trying to break in without specialized skills or you’re in a role that’s becoming commoditized, it’s rough out there.

Another weird dynamic: many companies are prioritizing upskilling existing employees over hiring new ones. They’d rather train someone who already understands their systems and culture than bring in an outsider. That’s good if you’re already employed in tech. It’s bad if you’re trying to break in from the outside.

And then there’s the AI factor, which we need to talk about honestly.

What AI Is Actually Doing to IT Jobs

There’s a lot of hype and panic about AI replacing tech workers. Let’s separate reality from fear-mongering.

AI is not replacing software engineers or data scientists wholesale.

The people saying “AI will code everything and developers are obsolete” don’t understand how software development actually works. AI tools are making certain tasks faster—writing boilerplate code, debugging, and generating test cases. But building complex systems, making architectural decisions, understanding business requirements, and maintaining large codebases still require human judgment and expertise.

AI is absolutely changing what skills matter.

If your job is writing straightforward CRUD applications or doing basic data entry and manipulation, yes, AI tools are making you less necessary. Companies can do more with fewer people when AI handles routine tasks. That’s already happening.

AI is creating new roles while eliminating others.

Machine learning engineers, AI ethics specialists, prompt engineers (yes, that’s a real thing now), AI operations engineers—these jobs barely existed five years ago. Meanwhile, some junior developer roles and tier-1 IT support positions are shrinking because AI can handle those tasks adequately.

The real shift is toward AI-augmented work.

Most IT jobs won’t disappear—they’ll evolve. You’ll use AI tools to work faster and handle more complexity. The people who thrive will be those who know how to effectively use AI to amplify their skills, not those who compete with AI on routine tasks.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth that’s showing up in employment data: IT unemployment has risen to 5.7%, which is higher than it’s been in years. Some companies, like CrowdStrike, have cut about 5% of their workforce, specifically citing AI-driven productivity gains. They’re getting more output with fewer people.

So yes, AI is affecting IT employment. But it’s not a simple story of “AI takes all the jobs.” It’s more nuanced—some roles are growing, some are shrinking, and most are changing.

Which IT Roles Are Actually Hiring in 2025

Let’s get specific about where demand is real and where it’s just noise.

AI and Machine Learning Engineers

These are probably the hottest roles right now. You’re building models, working with massive datasets, deploying AI systems into production, and constantly experimenting with new techniques. Companies across industries—not just tech companies—are hiring for this. Healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing, everyone wants AI capability.

The catch? It’s a legitimately hard role to break into. You need solid programming skills (Python especially), an understanding of statistics and math, experience with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and ideally a portfolio of projects or research. A four-year degree helps, often a master’s. Boot camps alone usually won’t cut it.

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Cybersecurity roles

These are in desperate for people. Information security analysts, security engineers, penetration testers, security architects—demand is high and growing. Cyberattacks are getting more sophisticated and frequent, and companies are finally taking security seriously after years of treating it as an afterthought.

The good news: there are more entry points here than in AI. Certifications like Security+ or CEH can help you break in. You can start in security operations or analyst roles and work your way up. The bad news: you need to constantly stay updated because threats evolve fast, and the work can be stressful—you’re essentially assuming something will go wrong and trying to prevent it.

Cloud Engineers and DevOps Engineers

They remain in demand because every company is either moving to the cloud or already there and needs people who can manage increasingly complex infrastructure. You’re working with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. You’re setting up CI/CD pipelines. Also, you are containerizing applications with Docker and Kubernetes. You’re making sure systems scale and stay reliable.

This is a solid career path with reasonable entry points. You can start as a systems administrator or junior DevOps engineer and build skills. Certifications from AWS or Azure carry real weight here.

Data Engineers and Data Scientists

They are still valuable, though the market has cooled slightly from the absurd hype a few years ago when every company decided they needed data scientists. Data engineers—who build the infrastructure and pipelines that make data usable—are actually in higher demand than data scientists now because companies realized they needed solid data infrastructure before they could do fancy analysis.

If you’re going into data, focus on the engineering side. Learn SQL deeply. Understand data warehousing and ETL pipelines. Get comfortable with tools like Airflow, Spark, or dbt. The pure statistics-focused data scientist role is getting rarer—companies want people who can build things, not just analyze.

Computer and Information Systems Managers

They are growing in demand as companies need people who can bridge technical knowledge with business strategy. These are leadership roles—you’re managing teams, setting IT direction, overseeing projects. You typically need significant technical experience before moving into management, but it’s a stable career path with good pay.

Quantum Computing Engineers and Researchers

These are emerging as a niche but legitimate field. This is cutting-edge, mostly research-oriented work with universities and a handful of companies like IBM or Google. It requires advanced degrees (often PhDs) and deep physics and computer science knowledge. It’s not for most people, but if you’re academically inclined and interested in fundamental computing research, it’s a real path.

Computer Support Specialists

These are actually projected to decline overall. This is the classic help desk or IT support role. AI chatbots and automated troubleshooting are handling more of these tasks, and companies are consolidating support teams. There will still be openings as people leave the profession, but it’s not a growth area. If you’re starting here, have a plan to move into something more specialized.

The Skills That Actually Matter Right Now

Let’s talk about what you need to be competitive, because the generic advice you see everywhere doesn’t tell the full story.

Programming languages still matter, but context matters more.

Python is dominant in AI, data, and increasingly in cloud automation. JavaScript remains essential for web development. Java and C# are still used heavily in enterprise environments. But just knowing a language isn’t enough anymore. You need to know how to use it in context—building APIs, working with databases, deploying to cloud platforms, writing tests, and debugging complex systems.

Cloud platforms are table stakes for most IT roles now.

At least basic familiarity with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform is expected. Understanding how to deploy applications, manage databases, set up networking, and handle security in the cloud is critical. Get certified if you’re trying to break in—AWS Solutions Architect or Azure Administrator certifications actually help on resumes.

AI and machine learning knowledge is becoming standard, even for non-AI roles.

You don’t need to be an expert, but understanding what AI can and can’t do, how to use AI tools effectively, and basic concepts like models, training, and inference are increasingly expected. Even if you’re not building models, you’ll likely work with people who are.

Cybersecurity fundamentals apply to everyone.

If you’re in IT, you need to understand security basics—authentication, encryption, common vulnerabilities, and secure coding practices. Specialized security roles need much deeper knowledge, but even developers and ops people need security awareness.

Infrastructure as code and DevOps practices

These are standard now. If you’re working on infrastructure, you’re probably writing code to manage it—Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible. You’re thinking about CI/CD, automated testing, monitoring, and observability. These aren’t optional skills; they’re how modern infrastructure works.

Data skills matter across roles.

SQL is probably the most universally valuable technical skill in IT right now. Whether you’re in analytics, backend development, DevOps, or product management, you’ll work with data. Understanding databases, how to write efficient queries, and basic data modeling helps in almost any IT role.

Here’s what matters as much as technical skills but gets ignored: communication, problem-solving, and the ability to learn quickly. Tech changes fast. Frameworks come and go. The specific tools you know today might be obsolete in five years. But if you can learn new things quickly, explain technical concepts clearly, and figure out how to solve novel problems, you’ll be valuable regardless of which specific technologies dominate.

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Certifications are a mixed bag.

Some are worth it. AWS and Azure certifications help you get interviews, especially early in your career. Security certifications like CISSP or CEH have real value in cybersecurity roles. But a lot of certifications are cash grabs that don’t actually prove much. Focus on certifications that are industry-recognized for your specific path, and prioritize building real skills and projects over collecting certificates.

The Entry-Level Crisis (And What to Do About It)

Let’s address what everyone starting in IT is experiencing: it’s brutally hard to get your first job right now.

Companies want experience, but you can’t get experience without someone giving you a chance. Job postings for “junior” roles list requirements that would have been mid-level a few years ago. Entry-level salaries have stagnated while the cost of living has climbed. Competition is intense because everyone knows IT pays well, and there are lots of boot camp graduates flooding the market.

Here’s what’s actually working for people breaking into IT in 2025:

Build a portfolio that demonstrates real skills.

Not tutorial projects everyone else did. Not your boot camp capstone that looks identical to 50 other people’s. Unique projects that solve actual problems or do something interesting. Put them on GitHub with good documentation. Deploy them so people can see them working. This matters more than your resume for many roles.

Contribute to open source projects.

This gives you real experience, shows you can work with existing codebases, and connects you with other developers. Start small—fix documentation, address minor bugs, add tests. Work your way up to more significant contributions.

Network strategically, not desperately.

Going to meetups and tech events helps, but don’t just collect business cards. Have meaningful conversations. Contribute to discussions. Help other people when you can. Referrals remain one of the best ways to get interviews, and those come from genuine relationships, not transactional networking.

Target smaller companies and startups.

Everyone applies to big tech companies because the names are recognizable. But mid-size companies and startups are often more willing to take chances on less experienced people, especially if you demonstrate initiative and fit their culture. You might learn more at a smaller company anyway because you’ll touch more parts of the stack.

Consider contract or freelance work to build experience.

It’s not ideal, but taking contract work through platforms like Upwork or Toptal, or even unpaid work for nonprofits, gets real projects on your resume. Once you have some professional experience, getting hired full-time becomes easier.

Be realistic about your first role.

You probably won’t start as a machine learning engineer or cloud architect. You might start in QA, or support, or as a junior developer on a less exciting project. That’s fine. Get in the door, prove yourself, learn, and move up. Too many people are holding out for a perfect first role that doesn’t exist.

Location still matters, even with remote work.

Some cities have way more IT opportunities than others. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, New York, Boston, Denver—these markets are saturated with tech companies and opportunities. If you’re in a smaller market, remote work helps, but competition is global for those roles. Sometimes relocating makes sense if you’re serious about IT.

What You’ll Actually Earn (And What It Costs)

The median annual wage for computer and IT occupations was about $106,000 as of 2024. That sounds great until you realize that the number is meaningless without context.

In San Francisco or New York, you need $150,000+ to live comfortably because rent alone might eat $3,000 to $4,000 per month. In smaller cities or remote roles based elsewhere, $80,000 goes much further. Total compensation includes not just salary but stock options (for some companies), bonuses, retirement matching, health insurance quality, paid time off, and perks like remote work flexibility.

Entry-level roles might pay $60,000 to $80,000, depending on location and company. Mid-level engineers with a few years of experience often make $100,000 to $150,000. Senior engineers and specialists in hot fields like AI or security can make $150,000 to $250,000+. Leadership roles like engineering managers or directors can exceed $300,000 at larger companies when you include equity.

But here’s what the salary guides don’t tell you: tech compensation is wildly uneven. A machine learning engineer at a top company might make $200,000+ straight out of grad school. A competent web developer at a normal company might top out around $120,000 after years of experience. The gap between roles and companies is huge.

Non-monetary benefits matter more now, too. Many AI-related roles come with better perks—remote work options, flexible hours, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and professional development budgets. Companies competing for AI talent are offering these to differentiate.

If you’re evaluating opportunities, look at total compensation, not just base salary. And consider the growth path—sometimes a lower-paying role at a company where you’ll learn faster and have upward mobility beats a higher-paying role where you’ll stagnate.

IT Jobs: The Risks Nobody Talks About

Beyond the obvious risk of AI disruption, there are other challenges in IT jobs that people don’t warn you about.

Skill obsolescence is real and constant. The half-life of technical skills keeps shrinking. What you learned five years ago is partially outdated. What you learned ten years ago might be completely irrelevant. You have to keep learning constantly, or you become less marketable. This is exhausting for some people.

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The pressure is relentless. Especially in certain roles and companies, IT work involves tight deadlines, on-call rotations, production incidents at 3 am, and constant pressure to ship faster. Burnout is common. Not every IT job is like this, but many are.

Ageism is a real problem. The industry loves to hire young people and treat anyone over 40 or 50 as obsolete. This is idiotic and illegal, but it happens. If you’re building a long IT career, you need to stay relevant and move into roles where experience is valued (architecture, management, specialization) or risk getting pushed out.

Outsourcing and offshoring remain threats. For certain types of work—especially routine development or support—companies continue to move jobs to lower-cost countries. This isn’t going away. Roles that can be done entirely remotely with minimal interaction are most at risk.

The job market is cyclical. Right now, it’s tough compared to a few years ago. It’ll probably improve, then contract again. If you’re planning a long IT career, you’ll go through multiple boom-and-bust cycles. Having savings, diverse skills, and a strong network helps you weather the bad periods.

Credential inflation keeps happening. What used to require a bachelor’s degree now requires a master’s. What used to be entry-level now requires three years of experience. This makes breaking in harder over time, even as demand for IT work grows overall.

Common Mistakes That Kill IT Jobs Before They Start

Chasing trends without understanding fundamentals.

People jump into whatever’s hot—AI this year, maybe quantum next year—without solid foundations in programming, systems, and problem-solving. When the trend shifts, they’re left with shallow knowledge that doesn’t transfer. Build fundamentals first, then specialize.

Collecting certifications instead of building skills.

Certifications can help you get interviews, but they don’t replace actual ability. I’ve seen people with five certifications who can’t troubleshoot a basic networking issue. Focus on being able to do the work, not just having credentials.

Ignoring soft skills.

The stereotype of the brilliant engineer who can’t communicate is outdated. In reality, the most successful IT professionals can explain technical concepts to non-technical people, work collaboratively, handle conflict, and manage their time well. Soft skills increasingly separate those who plateau from those who advance.

Not specializing enough.

“I’m a full-stack developer who also does data science and cloud architecture,” sounds versatile but often means you’re not excellent at anything specific. Especially when trying to break in, you’re better off being really good at one thing than mediocre at many things.

Applying to hundreds of jobs with the same generic resume.

Spray-and-pray doesn’t work when AI screening tools filter out most applications. Customize your application for roles you actually want and qualify for. Focus on quality over quantity.

Underestimating the importance of cultural fit.

Technical skills get you the interview. Culture fit gets you the offer. Companies want people who’ll work well with their team, align with their values, and stick around. Don’t ignore the human side of job hunting.

Staying in roles too long out of the comfort zone.

The industry rewards people who move strategically every few years, not those who stay put for a decade. If you’re not learning anymore and you’re not getting promoted, it’s probably time to look elsewhere. Loyalty doesn’t pay in IT like it might in other fields.

IT Jobs: What to Actually Do to Build an IT Career in 2025

If you’re trying to break into IT or advance your career, here’s what actually works right now:

Pick a direction and go deep, at least initially. Don’t try to learn everything. Choose cloud, cybersecurity, data engineering, AI, or web development. Get good at that one thing. You can branch out later, but you need a foundation first.

Build things and show your work. Projects, contributions, blog posts about what you’re learning. Make yourself visible. Future employers want to see what you can do, not just what you claim to know.

Get comfortable with AI tools. GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT for coding, and AI-powered debugging tools—learn how to use these effectively. They’re not replacing you; they’re tools that make you faster. People who resist them will fall behind.

Find mentors and communities. Online communities, local meetups, and Discord servers for specific technologies. Ask questions, help others when you can, and learn from people ahead of you. IT can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be.

Keep learning, but don’t fall into tutorial hell. There’s a balance between staying current and endlessly consuming courses without building anything. Set aside time for learning, but prioritize application over consumption.

Think long-term about career progression. Where do you want to be in five years? Senior engineer? Engineering manager? Technical architect? Entrepreneur? Different paths require different skill development. Don’t just drift—be intentional.

Take care of yourself. IT jobs are marathons, not sprints. Burnout is real. Set boundaries, maintain hobbies outside of tech, exercise, and sleep. Sustainability matters more than grinding yourself into the ground.

IT jobs in 2025 are challenging, selective, and rapidly evolving. But for people with the right skills, adaptability, and persistence, it still offers excellent opportunities. You just need to be strategic about how you approach it.