How to Get into Tech Without a Degree

The tech industry is a growing field with a range of jobs available, from data scientists to developers to system analysts and many more. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for information technology careers is expected to grow faster than average between 2023 and 2033, with a predicted 356,700 job openings per year [1].

Job requirements vary within the technology sector. While a degree is a popular entry point, not all tech jobs require one. Other important requirements include experience, skills, a strong portfolio, and relevant certifications. Tech is a wide-ranging field, and different roles have different criteria that don’t always include a degree. 

What are the job requirements for working in tech?

In such a fast-moving industry, employers often look for candidates who can demonstrate an understanding of and experience with the latest relevant technology and trends, as well as transferable workplace skills. 

With this in mind, many entry-level tech positions are accessible without a degree, which can provide you with experience and skills for promotion. You may even find tech jobs without a degree or experience, or at least very little experience required. 

Stepping into management roles, senior positions, or specialized roles may require additional education, such as a degree, and experience in learning and managing teams. You may also note that many of the highest-paying tech jobs do ultimately require a degree. However, this doesn't have to stop you from starting your career without one.

IT training and job placement: How to get an IT job without a degree

Tech jobs without a degree exist if you can prove yourself through experience, certifications, boot camps, self-learning, and a great portfolio and resume. Consider the steps below for how to get into tech without a degree.

1. Get tech experience. 

The tech industry is vast, so it’s important to make sure the experience you seek is relevant to the career you’re interested in. For most roles, general tech experience in an entry-level position is important, along with experience to enhance your workplace skills, such as in a customer service role. You may also be able to secure work in a nontechnical role, such as tech sales in a technical company or as a technical writer, to get your start. 

Also, look for tailored experience as well as general entry-level roles. Internships and volunteer work are excellent ways to gain relevant experience. You can also gain experience through events, networking, online meetups, and personal projects.

Depending on the tech role you’re interested in, it may be helpful to build a portfolio to showcase your experience and skills. 

2. Enroll in boot camps. 

Boot camps are an excellent way to gain the tech skills you need to do a job, using and honing your practical skills in a shorter timeframe than a degree. Boot camps usually involve working on very specific skills, which means you can tailor a boot camp to the role you want to do. 

Boot camps are typically less expensive than a degree and flexible, with part-time and online options, so you can fit them around your work and other commitments while still earning a salary. They are very practical and project-based, so they are a good option if this is your learning preference over more theoretical study. 

3. Earn certifications through tech training programs. 

Certifications are an excellent way of proving and validating your tech skills. They can be very valuable to your tech career, showing you can work at a certain level and have the skills necessary to do the job.

Certifications come in many forms, so you can choose one related to the job you want to apply for. Some may even be a prerequisite for the role. Some general technical certificates can add value to your resume if you don't have a degree. Tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, CompTIA, and others offer certifications in various disciplines that are widely recognized. Some examples include: 

• CompTIA A+

• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise

• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

• Amazon AWS Certified Developer - Associate

• Microsoft Certified: Fundamentals

4. Apply for entry-level positions that don’t require a degree. 

If you don’t have a degree, entry-level roles are a good place to start, as many of them don’t require a degree. If you have a relevant certification, experience, and skills, you might land one of these entry-level roles:

• Data analyst

• Junior developer

• Web designer

• Computer programmer

• Technical writer

• Help desk analyst

• Computer network technician 

• Tech sales agent

• Digital marketing specialist

5. Find companies that don’t require a degree.

While employers often require a degree for tech jobs, some companies are more open to other credentials. According to CompTIA Workforce and Learning Trends 2024, almost half of all tech job postings do not specify a four-year degree requirement [2].

A number of employers, such as Amazon, Accenture, Google, and Apple, see boot camps as desirable, so if you have participated in a boot camp but don’t have a degree, you can still look for jobs at these top companies.

Required skills for tech jobs 

The skills you need for a tech role ultimately depend on the specifics of the role. Different jobs require different skills, tools, and areas of specialization. As a general rule, however, many tech jobs require the following skills as standard:

Technical skills

• Coding

• Programming languages

• Data management tools 

• Customer relationship management (CRM)

• Search engine optimization (SEO)

• Data analytics

• Project management

• Troubleshooting

Workplace skills

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Creativity

• Computer literacy

• Time management 

Salary and job outlook for IT jobs without a degree

According to the BLS, the average annual salary for a technology professional in the US is $105,990 [1]. Keep in mind, this varies depending on the role. Here are some related roles and their average annual base salaries [3, 4]:

• Help desk technician: $55,527

• Cybersecurity specialist: $116,344

The demand for tech professionals is faster than average compared to all occupations in the US [1]. Professionals in the cybersecurity industry are in particularly high demand, with a predicted job growth rate of 33 percent between 2023 and 2033 [5]. In contrast, database administrators' job outlook is 9 percent, which is also faster than average [6]. 

What tech is in demand?

According to the BLS, computer systems design and related services are in high demand, with a projected employment growth rate of 19.5 percent between 2023 and 2033 [7]. Other tech jobs in high demand include data scientists and information security analysts, with an expected employment growth rate of about 41 percent during that same period [7]. The fields of computer and information research scientists and operations research analysts should also continue to grow at a fast rate of 31.6 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively [7].

How to start IT if you don't have a degree: Potential career paths 

Entry-level positions like those listed earlier are a great starting point for more advanced careers. You’ll also find a number of higher-level positions that are available to you without a degree, provided you have other relevant experience, certifications, and training. Examples and associated salaries include:

• Mobile developer: $106,826

• DevOps engineer: $113,944

• Software engineer: $111,954

• UX designer: $84,176

• Data analyst: $73,879

• Cybersecurity analyst: $103,872

• Network engineer: $102,776

• Systems analyst: $97,896

*All annual base salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of May 2025 and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.

Discover tech training programs on Coursera

Earning a Professional Certificate is an excellent way to get into tech without a degree. Within several months, you can gain the skills you need to qualify for a tech role. You’ll find several options available on Coursera, depending on the type of role you’re interested in. Consider learning more about the world of UX design with the Google UX Design Professional Certificate, get job-ready data analytics skills with the Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate, or get into computer support with the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.