10 Best Entry Level IT and Cybersecurity Jobs in 2026: What They Pay, What You Need, and Where to Find Them

The AI boom has flipped the entry level tech job market in ways that most career guides are not telling you about.

On one hand, AI is automating parts of the work that used to belong to junior roles. Routine help desk triage, basic script writing, cookie-cutter QA testing. Some of those tasks are genuinely shrinking. On the other hand, AI has created a security crisis that is sending cybersecurity hiring through the roof. It has pushed every organization to adopt new tools that their existing staff does not know how to use or support. And it has created entirely new categories of IT work that barely existed two years ago.

The net result? Entry level IT in 2026 is not dead. It is just different. And the people who understand exactly which roles are growing, which skills AI has made newly essential, and where to find real job listings are in a genuinely strong position right now.

This guide covers 10 entry level IT and cybersecurity roles with honest salary data, what you actually need to get hired, and how the AI wave affects each one. We also cover where to find legitimate openings, including remote ones, without wading through ghost jobs and scam listings.

If you want to understand the bigger picture of where tech hiring is heading, our breakdown of the best jobs for the future in 2026 puts this all into context.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

How AI Is Reshaping Entry Level IT Right Now

Before we get into the individual roles, you need to understand the landscape. Because the AI boom has done two very different things to entry level IT at the same time.

What AI is compressing:

• Basic tier 1 help desk triage (AI chatbots now handle a significant portion of simple ticket resolution)
• Repetitive manual QA testing (AI-assisted testing tools have reduced the raw headcount needed for routine test case execution)
• Junior developer demand at some companies (senior devs using AI coding tools can now produce more output with smaller teams)

What AI is expanding:

• Cybersecurity roles at every level, because AI tools have given attackers new capabilities and created new attack vectors that human analysts must monitor and defend against
• IT support roles that require AI tool literacy, because every organization is rolling out AI software that employees need help using
• Cloud and infrastructure roles, because AI workloads require serious compute infrastructure that someone has to manage
• AI-adjacent QA roles that focus on testing AI outputs rather than traditional software

The honest takeaway is that entry level IT is not shrinking overall. It is sorting. The roles most insulated from automation are those that require human judgment, hands-on physical work, or cybersecurity expertise. The roles most affected are pure-volume, low-complexity task execution.

We cover the broader pattern in our piece on entry level AI jobs if you want to see how this plays out across tech more broadly.

What “Entry Level” Actually Means in 2026

Entry level in tech does not always mean zero experience. It typically means less than two years of professional experience in that specific role, no management responsibilities, and a hiring process that weighs certifications and demonstrated skills heavily over formal degrees.

The good news is that the certification market has matured. A CompTIA Security+ or Google Cybersecurity certificate can legitimately open doors that a four-year business degree cannot. And with AI now embedded into learning platforms, the time it takes to build job-ready skills is genuinely shorter than it was even three years ago.

The 10 Best Entry Level IT and Cybersecurity Jobs in 2026

1. IT Support Specialist

Typical starting salary: $38,000 to $52,000 per year

AI impact: Moderate. Evolving, not shrinking.

IT support specialists handle software installations, troubleshoot hardware problems, manage user accounts, and help employees work through technical issues. This role is not going away. But it is changing.

AI chatbots and automated ticketing systems are handling a growing share of the most basic requests. What that means for you as a candidate is that the bar for entry level IT support is rising slightly. Companies want support specialists who can handle the complex problems that AI cannot, and who can help employees navigate the AI tools the organization is adopting.

AI adds an important new skill requirement here. Many support tickets in 2026 are about AI software: Microsoft Copilot behaving unexpectedly, AI-assisted tools producing wrong outputs, prompt-related confusion. Candidates who understand how these tools work have a real edge over those who do not.

What you need to get hired:

• CompTIA A+ certification (still the gold standard for this role)
• Basic knowledge of Windows and macOS environments
• Familiarity with at least one AI productivity tool (Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, etc.)
• Strong communication skills, because explaining tech to non-technical people is half the job

This is still one of the most remote-friendly entry points in tech. Our guide on how to get into IT without a degree covers this path in full detail.

Interview Guys Tip: In IT support interviews, expect a “tell me about a time you solved a technical problem under pressure” question every single time. Prepare two or three specific stories using the SOAR method (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result) before you walk in. Then add one story about helping someone navigate an unfamiliar tool. That second story signals AI-era readiness in a way most candidates never think to address.

2. Help Desk Technician

Typical starting salary: $36,000 to $50,000 per year

AI impact: Mixed. Tier 1 is shrinking slightly. Tier 2 is growing.

Help desk technicians are the first point of contact when something breaks. They work from ticketing systems like Zendesk or ServiceNow, triage incoming issues, resolve what they can, and escalate what they cannot.

Pure tier 1 help desk volume is shrinking as AI handles more routine requests automatically. But tier 2 help desk work, which requires actual diagnosis and human judgment, is holding steady and in some organizations growing. The best move as a candidate is to position yourself for tier 2 from the start: lead with problem-solving ability, not just ticket volume capacity.

The AI angle that matters: Organizations adopting AI tools are generating a new category of help desk tickets that did not exist before. Employees confused about AI outputs, frustrated with AI suggestions, or dealing with AI integration failures. Help desk techs who can troubleshoot these scenarios are more valuable right now.

What you need to get hired:

• CompTIA A+ or Google IT Support Professional Certificate
• Familiarity with a ticketing system (free demos and personal projects count)
• Basic understanding of at least one AI productivity platform
• Patience and clear communication under pressure

Many people land their first help desk role within 90 days of completing CompTIA A+. It remains one of the fastest on-ramps into corporate IT.

3. Junior Network Administrator

Typical starting salary: $45,000 to $62,000 per year

AI impact: Low. Infrastructure work is highly resistant to automation.

Network administrators keep the infrastructure running. At the junior level this means monitoring network performance, assisting with router and switch configurations, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and supporting senior admins on larger projects.

This role is one of the most AI-resistant on the list. You cannot automate the physical reality of networks. Someone has to understand how packets move, where connections fail, and how to diagnose problems in real infrastructure. AI tools can assist with monitoring and anomaly detection, but the human judgment required for diagnosis and resolution is not going away.

The AI upside: AI-powered network monitoring tools from companies like Cisco and Palo Alto are now common in enterprise environments. Junior admins who know how to work with these tools are in a stronger position than those relying on manual monitoring alone.

What you need to get hired:

• CompTIA Network+ certification
• Basic understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and VLANs
• Familiarity with tools like Wireshark or Cisco Packet Tracer
• Exposure to AI-assisted monitoring platforms is a growing bonus

Networking skills are also the foundation for moving into cybersecurity or cloud engineering later, both of which are high-growth paths in the AI era.

4. Cybersecurity Analyst (Entry Level)

Typical starting salary: $52,000 to $75,000 per year

AI impact: This role is booming because of AI, not despite it.

This is the strongest entry level opportunity in the entire IT sector right now, and the AI boom is a direct reason why.

AI has handed attackers new capabilities at scale. Phishing campaigns that used to require human crafting can now be generated at volume. Deepfake social engineering attacks are real and growing. Malware is being written and adapted faster than before. Every organization adopting AI tools is also expanding its attack surface in ways their existing security teams were not built to handle.

Entry level cybersecurity analysts monitor security systems, review alerts from SIEM tools, investigate potential threats, and help document incident response procedures. The human judgment required to distinguish real threats from false positives is exactly the kind of work AI cannot fully replace, which is why this role is hiring aggressively.

AI adds a new baseline expectation here. Understanding how AI is being weaponized by attackers, including AI-generated phishing, prompt injection attacks, and adversarial AI, is becoming part of what entry level candidates are expected to know before they walk in the door.

What you need to get hired:

• CompTIA Security+ (the most widely recognized entry level security cert, often listed as a hard requirement)
• Familiarity with SIEM tools like Splunk or Microsoft Sentinel
• Basic networking knowledge (Network+ first is a common path)
• Awareness of AI-driven threat vectors

The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera is a strong foundation before sitting for CompTIA Security+. We reviewed it in our Google Cybersecurity Certificate review. For a full breakdown of which security certs carry the most weight, our guide to the 5 best cybersecurity certifications for 2026 is worth reading before you commit to a study path.

Interview Guys Tip: Cybersecurity hiring managers want to see that you think like an attacker. Before your interview, practice explaining at least two AI-specific attack vectors, such as AI-generated phishing or prompt injection, in plain language. Being able to articulate how AI is changing the threat landscape shows a level of awareness that most entry level candidates miss entirely.

5. SOC Analyst (Security Operations Center, Tier 1)

Typical starting salary: $50,000 to $72,000 per year

AI impact: High demand. AI is creating more alerts that humans must review.

SOC Analysts monitor security systems around the clock, investigate alerts, and escalate real threats to senior analysts. Tier 1 is genuinely entry level. These roles exist because organizations need trained humans to review the volume of alerts their security systems generate.

Here is the interesting dynamic. AI-powered security tools have gotten much better at detecting anomalies. But better detection means more alerts. And more alerts means more humans needed to triage them, determine what is real, and decide what to escalate. SOC analyst hiring is growing partly because AI monitoring tools are generating more signal than existing teams can handle alone.

What you need to get hired:

• CompTIA Security+ (often listed as a hard requirement, not just a preference)
• Familiarity with SIEM tools like Splunk or Microsoft Sentinel
• Understanding of incident response basics
• Ability to stay focused during high-volume alert review

SOC roles often include shift differentials for evening and overnight coverage, which meaningfully increases take-home pay from day one. For a full look at the certification paths that lead here, our guide to the 5 best IT certifications for 2026 is a great companion.

6. Cloud Support Associate

Typical starting salary: $48,000 to $68,000 per year

AI impact: Strong growth. AI workloads are driving cloud infrastructure demand.

Cloud support associates help organizations manage their cloud environments. They troubleshoot cloud service issues, assist with access management, monitor cloud resource usage, and support migrations from on-premises systems.

This role barely existed as an entry level position a few years ago. It does now, largely because AI has driven an explosion in cloud compute demand. Every company building on or integrating AI tools is consuming more cloud infrastructure. Someone has to support that infrastructure. At the entry level, that is a cloud support associate.

The AI angle is central to this role’s growth. Organizations running AI workloads on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud need support staff who understand cloud architecture. This is one of the better-positioned entry level roles for the next several years.

What you need to get hired:

• AWS Cloud Practitioner, Microsoft AZ-900, or Google Cloud Digital Leader certification
• Basic understanding of cloud concepts including compute, storage, networking, and IAM
• Familiarity with at least one major cloud platform’s management console

The Microsoft Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate on Coursera is one of the most direct paths to entry level readiness for this role and covers the foundational cloud concepts employers actually test for.

7. Junior QA Tester (with AI Testing Focus)

Typical starting salary: $42,000 to $60,000 per year

AI impact: Traditional QA is compressing. AI-focused QA is growing fast.

QA testers find bugs before real users do. They write test cases, document issues, verify fixes, and work with development teams to ensure software actually functions as intended. The role itself is not disappearing, but it is splitting into two distinct tracks.

Traditional manual QA testing, particularly repetitive test case execution, is being compressed by AI-assisted testing tools that automate the routine work. But a new category is growing fast: QA work focused specifically on testing AI systems. Validating that AI outputs are accurate, consistent, and free of harmful bias. Catching AI hallucinations before they reach users. Testing prompts and AI integrations. This is genuinely entry level work that barely existed two years ago.

If you are pursuing QA in 2026, position yourself for the AI testing track. Familiarity with how large language models work and what their common failure modes look like is a real differentiator that very few entry level candidates have.

What you need to get hired:

• Familiarity with bug-tracking tools like Jira
• Basic understanding of software development life cycles
• ISTQB Foundation Level certification is helpful
• For AI-focused QA: understanding of AI basics and common failure modes like hallucination and bias

Our breakdown of jobs that AI will create that don’t exist yet covers AI QA as one of the most accessible emerging categories.

8. Junior Web Developer / Front-End Developer

Typical starting salary: $48,000 to $68,000 per year

AI impact: More competitive, but not closed off if you adapt.

This is the role where we need to be most direct about the AI effect. Junior developer hiring has softened at some companies because AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot allow senior developers to produce more output with smaller teams. The pure “write this component” entry level work has gotten more competitive.

That said, junior developers who work effectively alongside AI coding tools are still being hired. The shift is real: employers in 2026 want junior devs who use AI to accelerate their work, not developers who ignore it. Your portfolio should include work produced with AI assistance, and you should be able to talk intelligently about how you direct AI tools, review their output, and catch their mistakes.

What you need to get hired:

• Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• A portfolio with at least two or three real projects (personal ones count)
• Demonstrated ability to work with AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot or Cursor
• Version control via Git

The IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate on Coursera covers both front and back-end fundamentals and is structured for people starting from scratch. Our piece on whether Coursera certificates are worth it is worth reading before you commit to any learning program.

Interview Guys Tip: When interviewing for junior developer roles in 2026, be ready to answer “how do you use AI in your development workflow?” Saying you don’t use AI sounds out of touch. Saying you use it without critical judgment sounds naive. The right answer is specific: here is the tool I use, here is how I review its output, here is where I have caught it being wrong.

9. IT Technician (Field or On-Site)

Typical starting salary: $38,000 to $55,000 per year

AI impact: Very low. Hands-on physical work is highly resistant to automation.

Field IT technicians deploy hardware, set up workstations, troubleshoot in-person issues, manage physical server rooms, and maintain the infrastructure that remote workers and AI systems actually run on. You cannot send a chatbot to swap a hard drive or run a cable.

This role has quietly become more valuable in the AI era. AI infrastructure requires physical hardware. More compute means more equipment to install, maintain, and replace. Companies running AI workloads on-premises have a growing need for technicians who can manage that equipment. If you prefer hands-on work over screen-based troubleshooting, this is one of the most AI-resistant entry points in the entire IT sector.

What you need to get hired:

• CompTIA A+ certification
• Physical comfort working with hardware including cables, servers, and desktop components
• A valid driver’s license for most field roles
• Basic familiarity with server infrastructure is a bonus

Field technician roles tend to be less competitive than remote roles simply because fewer candidates pursue them. That can work significantly in your favor when you are trying to land your first IT job quickly.

10. IT Systems Administrator (Junior)

Typical starting salary: $50,000 to $68,000 per year

AI impact: Low to moderate. Cloud and AI infrastructure skills raise the ceiling.

Systems administrators manage the servers, operating systems, and internal infrastructure that organizations depend on. At the junior level this means supporting senior admins, managing user accounts, applying system updates, and monitoring performance dashboards.

The AI shift here is about the infrastructure itself. Organizations running AI workloads need sysadmins who understand how to provision, monitor, and maintain the compute environments those workloads run on. Junior sysadmins who pick up cloud and AI infrastructure basics alongside traditional server management skills are better positioned for promotion than those who stick purely to legacy on-premises knowledge.

What you need to get hired:

• CompTIA Server+ or Microsoft AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals)
• Familiarity with Windows Server and/or Linux
• Understanding of Active Directory and user management
• Basic exposure to cloud infrastructure is increasingly expected

The Certifications That Open Doors in 2026

You cannot talk about entry level IT jobs without talking about certifications. Here is the honest breakdown of what is worth your time.

CompTIA Certifications remain the most employer-recognized credentials in the field. The progression most employers respect:

• CompTIA A+: Start here for IT support and help desk roles
• CompTIA Network+: Add this for networking and infrastructure paths
• CompTIA Security+: Required or strongly preferred for most cybersecurity entry points

Google Professional Certificates on Coursera are legitimate alternatives and increasingly recognized by mid-size employers. The Google IT Support and Google Cybersecurity certificates are both solid starting points, particularly if CompTIA exam costs are a barrier upfront. You can read our Google IT Support Certificate review for a detailed breakdown.

Cloud provider certs (AWS Cloud Practitioner, Microsoft AZ-900, Google Cloud Digital Leader) are worth adding if you are targeting cloud support or infrastructure roles. Most are accessible within four to six weeks of focused study.

If you are planning to earn two or three certifications, Coursera Plus makes the math work strongly in your favor. For around $59 per month, you get access to the full Google IT Support certificate, the Google Cybersecurity certificate, IBM’s full stack and cloud programs, and hundreds of other career-relevant courses. Paying per course adds up fast. Coursera Plus is built exactly for someone who is stacking credentials efficiently.

Our full breakdown of whether Coursera Plus is worth it in 2026 walks through the cost math in detail.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: employers now expect multiple technical competencies, not just one specialization. The days of being “just a marketer” or “just an analyst” are over. You need AI skills, project management, data literacy, and more. Building that skill stack one $49 course at a time is expensive and slow. That’s why unlimited access makes sense:

What Employers Are Actually Looking for in 2026

The IT talent gap is real, but it has gotten more specific. The AI era has sharpened what separates candidates who get called back from those who do not.

• AI tool literacy: Can you demonstrate that you have used AI tools in your learning or personal projects? This is now a visible signal in virtually every IT job posting, even support and infrastructure roles
• Curiosity and self-directed learning: Did you set up a home lab? Do you follow security news? Do you know what changed in your target field in the last six months? Employers want learners who do not wait to be taught
• Documentation habits: Can you write a clear incident report or a troubleshooting summary? This is underrated and consistently separates strong candidates from average ones
• Communication across technical levels: Can you explain a DNS issue to someone who has never heard of DNS? Can you translate an AI tool failure into plain language for a frustrated user? This is tested in nearly every IT interview

For a broader view of what the hiring market rewards right now, our piece on highest paying entry level jobs in 2026 shows how IT stacks up against other accessible career starting points.

Remote Entry Level Tech Roles: Where FlexJobs Fits In

Remote IT job searching has a specific problem that general job boards do not solve well. A significant percentage of remote tech postings are expired, misclassified, or outright fraudulent. This is especially common in entry level cybersecurity and support roles, where job seekers are motivated and sometimes less experienced at spotting red flags.

FlexJobs solves this directly. Every listing is manually reviewed before it goes live. No scams, no ghost jobs, no bait-and-switch salary listings. The platform has a dedicated tech and IT section with solid filters for remote work, experience level, and part-time availability.

Our honest FlexJobs review explains exactly how the platform works and whether the membership fee makes sense for your situation.

Interview Guys Tip: When applying for remote IT roles, your resume needs to be keyword-optimized for ATS systems before a human ever sees it. Certification names matter: write “CompTIA Security+” not just “Security+” and “Google IT Support Professional Certificate” not just “Google cert.” Our guide on how to list certifications on a resume shows you the exact formatting that gets through automated screening.

The remote job market is real. The fake listings cluttering up the free job boards are also real. FlexJobs fixes the second problem.

FAQ: Entry Level IT Jobs in 2026

Do I need a college degree to get an entry level IT job?

For most of the roles on this list, no. CompTIA certifications, Google Professional Certificates, and a demonstrable portfolio of hands-on skills carry real weight with employers. Some government roles and larger enterprise environments still prefer a degree, but the industry has broadly shifted toward skills-based hiring. Our guide on getting into IT without a degree covers this in full.

Is AI making entry level IT harder to break into?

It depends entirely on the role. Pure tier 1 help desk and basic manual QA are more competitive than they were two years ago. Cybersecurity, cloud support, and hands-on infrastructure roles are actively hiring. The people struggling right now are those targeting the wrong roles with outdated skill sets. Target roles with AI-era tailwinds and position yourself as someone who works with AI tools rather than someone displaced by them.

How long does it take to get certified and land a job?

Most people earn CompTIA A+ within two to three months of focused study. The Google IT Support certificate on Coursera typically takes three to six months at a few hours per week. Realistically, someone starting from scratch today could have their first IT job within six to nine months with consistent effort.

Which certification should I get first?

IT support and help desk: start with CompTIA A+. Cybersecurity: Google Cybersecurity certificate followed by CompTIA Security+. Cloud roles: AWS Cloud Practitioner or Microsoft AZ-900. Not sure which path fits your goals? Our guide on which certification you should get walks through the full decision.

The Bottom Line

Entry level IT in 2026 is sorting, not shrinking. The roles with the strongest tailwinds (cybersecurity analyst, SOC analyst, cloud support, hands-on field technician) are hiring. The roles most affected by AI automation are more competitive but not closed off if you position yourself correctly.

Your action plan:

• Choose a role with AI-era tailwinds from this list. Cybersecurity analyst, SOC analyst, and cloud support associate are the strongest bets right now
• Get the right certification for your target role. CompTIA A+ for support, Security+ for cybersecurity, cloud provider certs for infrastructure
• Add AI tool literacy to your skill set regardless of which role you target. It is now a visible differentiator in virtually every IT job posting
• Use Coursera Plus if you are stacking two or more certifications. The per-course math stops making sense quickly
• Find remote openings through FlexJobs where every listing is screened and legitimate

The barrier to entry in IT is lower than the noise around AI disruption suggests. The right role, the right certifications, and a job search focused on real listings will get you there faster than you expect.

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