u/Unusual_Cattle_2983

Hi everyone,

I’m currently studying a higher vocational degree in System & Network Administration in Belgium, and I’m starting to think about what I should do after graduating.

I’ve received several answers to a previous post about salaries and career progression in Belgian IT, and now I’m unsure whether I should continue studying after my degree.

My current plan would be to start working after graduation, potentially in a role such as IT administrator, system administrator, network administrator or junior infrastructure engineer.

However, I also have the option to continue studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity or AI, which would take around 2.5 additional years. After that, I could potentially continue towards a Master’s degree.

I’m trying to decide whether the additional education would actually be worth the time and effort.

For people working in IT, especially in Belgium:

Would you recommend getting a Bachelor’s after a higher vocational degree in System & Network Administration?

Does having a Bachelor’s make a significant difference in salary or career progression?

Is a Master’s degree useful for someone who wants to work in cybersecurity, cloud, infrastructure, networking or DevOps?

Would it be better to start working immediately after my degree and gain 2–3 years of experience instead?

If you have a Bachelor’s or Master’s, do you feel that it has significantly helped your career?

Are there IT positions in Belgium that I would realistically be unable to reach without a Bachelor’s/Master’s?

If my long-term goal is to maximize my earning potential, which path would you choose?

I’m not necessarily interested in management or academia. I’m mainly interested in technical IT roles and eventually reaching a high salary.

I would especially appreciate answers from people who have worked in Belgian IT for several years and can compare education vs. work experience.

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently studying a higher vocational degree in System & Network Administration in Belgium, and I’m curious about the experiences of people who work in IT.

After graduating, I’ll probably start as an IT support/IT administrator, system administrator, or something similar.

During my studies, I’m learning about:
System administration
Network administration
Microsoft 365 / Azure
Windows Server
Linux Server
Servers and virtualization
IT infrastructure
Cisco/networking

I’m mainly wondering what I can realistically expect in terms of gross and net salary after graduating.

For those working in Belgium:
What was your starting salary after graduation?

How much experience did you have?

What do you earn now after 3, 5, or 10 years?

Which IT roles would you recommend if my goal is to increase my salary over time?

I’m mainly interested in realistic experiences from Belgium, preferably from people working in or around Limburg/Hasselt.
Thanks!