Feeling stuck making $43k a year in IT even though I’m about to finish my cybersecurity degree
I’m currently working as an IT Specialist making about $43k a year, and I’m starting to feel completely stuck.
I actually really like my job and the people I work with, which makes this harder. I have a few years of IT experience and I’m about to finish my bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, but I cannot seem to land anything that pays significantly more. I’ve been applying to higher level IT, sysadmin, and entry level cybersecurity positions and it feels like I’m getting nowhere.
What scares me is that I’m already in a better financial situation than a lot of people. I have no debt and I inherited a paid off house, so I don’t even have a mortgage or rent payment. Somehow, after utilities, food, car expenses, insurance, taxes, and normal living expenses, I’m still ending up almost negative some months.
I genuinely do not understand how people making $40k to $50k are surviving right now while also paying $1,500+ a month in rent or a mortgage.
I know finishing my degree will help somewhat, but the cybersecurity job market seems brutal, especially for people trying to break into their first security role. I keep seeing jobs asking for degrees, certifications, and several years of experience while offering salaries that barely seem higher than help desk pay.
Has anyone else been stuck around this income level in IT and managed to break out of it? What actually helped you move into the $60k to $80k range? Sysadmin experience? Cloud? Security certs? Just applying constantly?
I don’t expect to make six figures immediately. I just want to feel like working in IT and finishing a cybersecurity degree is actually moving me forward financially.