🚀 Career Roadmaps

IT Career Paths Roadmaps

Step-by-step roadmaps for the most in-demand IT careers. From zero to employed — with certifications, salary ranges, and free resources.

🛡️ Network Security Engineer⚙️ System Administrator☁️ Cloud Engineer🔄 DevOps Engineer🔓 Penetration Tester💻 Full Stack Developer📊 Data Analyst🤖 AI Engineer🔒 Cloud Security Engineer🕵️ SOC Analyst
🛡️

Network Security Engineer

Protect networks from cyber threats. Design firewalls, implement IDS/IPS, conduct security audits, and respond to incidents.

Salary
$85K – $160K
Timeline
2–4 years
Demand
Very High
1

Foundation (0–6 months)

  • Learn networking basics (OSI, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP)
  • Study CompTIA Network+ materials
  • Set up home lab: Raspberry Pi, pfSense, Wireshark
  • Learn Linux command line basics
2

Security Basics (6–12 months)

  • Earn CompTIA Security+ certification
  • Learn about firewalls, IDS/IPS systems
  • Practice on TryHackMe or Hack The Box (Easy)
  • Study OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
3

Specialization (1–2 years)

  • Choose: Blue Team (defense) or Red Team (offense)
  • Earn CEH or CCNA Security
  • Learn SIEM tools: Splunk, Elastic Stack
  • Work SOC analyst role or junior security role
4

Senior Level (2–4 years)

  • Earn CISSP or CISM for management track
  • Earn OSCP for penetration testing track
  • Lead security audits and incident response
  • Architect enterprise security solutions

🔑 Key Skills

TCP/IP, OSI ModelFirewalls (Cisco, Palo Alto)SIEM (Splunk, QRadar)Penetration TestingVPN & Zero TrustPython scriptingThreat IntelligenceSOC Operations

🎓 Certifications

CompTIA Security+Entry
CompTIA Network+Entry
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)Mid
CCNA Security (Cisco)Mid
CISSPSenior
OSCPAdvanced

📚 Free Resources

  • TryHackMe (free)
  • Hack The Box
  • SANS Institute
  • Cybrary (free courses)
  • r/netsec community
⚙️

System Administrator

Manage and maintain server infrastructure, user accounts, backups, and ensure system uptime across Windows and Linux environments.

Salary
$60K – $120K
Timeline
1–3 years
Demand
High
1

Foundation (0–6 months)

  • Set up Linux on a VM (Ubuntu/CentOS)
  • Learn basic Linux commands and file system
  • Study CompTIA A+ or start RHCSA prep
  • Learn basic networking (DNS, DHCP, IP)
2

Core Skills (6–12 months)

  • Learn Windows Server: Active Directory, Group Policy
  • Study scripting: PowerShell (Windows) & Bash (Linux)
  • Set up and manage Apache/Nginx web servers
  • Learn virtualization with VirtualBox or VMware
3

Professional (1–2 years)

  • Earn RHCSA or Microsoft AZ-800 certification
  • Learn configuration management: Ansible, Puppet
  • Set up monitoring systems (Zabbix, Grafana)
  • Practice disaster recovery and backup strategies
4

Senior SysAdmin (2–3 years)

  • Move towards DevOps or Cloud focus
  • Learn Docker and Kubernetes basics
  • Earn RHCE or Microsoft MCSE
  • Mentor junior admins, lead infrastructure projects

🔑 Key Skills

Linux (RHEL, Ubuntu)Windows Server & ADPowerShell & Bash scriptingVirtualization (VMware/Hyper-V)Backup & Disaster RecoveryMonitoring (Nagios, Zabbix)Networking fundamentalsStorage (NAS/SAN)

🎓 Certifications

CompTIA A+Entry
RHCSA (Red Hat)Entry-Mid
Microsoft MCSA/AZ-800Mid
RHCE (Red Hat)Senior

📚 Free Resources

  • Linux Journey (free)
  • The Practice of System and Network Administration (book)
  • r/sysadmin
  • Ansible Documentation
  • Microsoft Learn (free)
☁️

Cloud Engineer

Design, build, and manage cloud infrastructure on AWS, Azure, or GCP. Implement scalable, resilient cloud architectures.

Salary
$95K – $175K
Timeline
2–3 years
Demand
Very High
1

Cloud Basics (0–3 months)

  • Create free-tier AWS or Azure account
  • Take AWS Cloud Practitioner prep course (free on YouTube)
  • Learn core services: EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, RDS
  • Earn AWS Cloud Practitioner certification
2

Core Services (3–9 months)

  • Study AWS Solutions Architect Associate
  • Build projects: static site on S3, API on Lambda, RDS setup
  • Learn Infrastructure as Code with Terraform
  • Understand VPCs, subnets, security groups, load balancers
3

Containers & DevOps (9–18 months)

  • Learn Docker fundamentals
  • Study Kubernetes (start with Minikube locally)
  • Earn CKA or AWS DevOps Professional cert
  • Build CI/CD pipeline with GitHub Actions / Jenkins
4

Senior Cloud Engineer (2–3 years)

  • Lead multi-cloud or hybrid cloud architecture
  • Implement FinOps (cloud cost optimization)
  • Earn AWS Solutions Architect Professional
  • Mentor and architect enterprise cloud migrations

🔑 Key Skills

AWS / Azure / GCPTerraform (IaC)Kubernetes & DockerCI/CD PipelinesPython / BashNetworking in CloudCost OptimizationSecurity & IAM

🎓 Certifications

AWS Cloud PractitionerEntry
AWS Solutions Architect AssociateMid
Azure AZ-900 + AZ-104Mid
CKA (Kubernetes)Mid-Senior
AWS Solutions Architect ProSenior

📚 Free Resources

  • AWS Free Tier (hands-on)
  • A Cloud Guru / Udemy
  • Terraform by HashiCorp (free docs)
  • r/aws & r/devops
  • KodeKloud (Kubernetes labs)
🔄

DevOps Engineer

Bridge development and operations. Automate infrastructure, build CI/CD pipelines, and enable rapid, reliable software delivery.

Salary
$90K – $165K
Timeline
2–4 years
Demand
Very High
1

Foundation (0–6 months)

  • Learn Linux and Bash scripting thoroughly
  • Git: branching, merging, pull requests, CI basics
  • Learn Docker: build images, compose files, networking
  • Python scripting for automation
2

CI/CD & Automation (6–12 months)

  • Set up Jenkins or GitHub Actions pipeline
  • Learn Ansible for configuration management
  • Study Infrastructure as Code with Terraform
  • Deploy apps to cloud (AWS EC2/ECS)
3

Containers & Orchestration (1–2 years)

  • Kubernetes: pods, deployments, services, ingress
  • Earn CKA certification
  • Set up monitoring: Prometheus + Grafana
  • Implement GitOps with Flux or ArgoCD
4

Platform Engineering (2–4 years)

  • Build internal developer platforms
  • Implement SLOs/SLIs and reliability engineering
  • Lead cloud migration and modernization
  • Architect multi-region deployment strategies

🔑 Key Skills

CI/CD (Jenkins, GitHub Actions)Docker & KubernetesTerraform / AnsibleCloud (AWS/Azure/GCP)Python / Shell scriptingGit & branching strategiesMonitoring (Prometheus, Grafana)Linux administration

🎓 Certifications

Docker Certified AssociateEntry-Mid
CKA / CKADMid
AWS DevOps ProfessionalSenior
HashiCorp Terraform AssociateMid

📚 Free Resources

  • KodeKloud.com
  • GitHub Actions docs
  • Kubernetes.io tutorials
  • DevOps Roadmap (roadmap.sh)
  • r/devops
🔓

Penetration Tester

Ethically hack systems to find vulnerabilities before malicious actors do. Conduct penetration tests on networks, web apps, and APIs.

Salary
$80K – $150K
Timeline
2–4 years
Demand
High
1

Foundations (0–6 months)

  • Learn networking: TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, common ports
  • Install Kali Linux in VM, explore basic tools
  • Start TryHackMe — Pre-Security path (free)
  • Learn Python for scripting (automate tasks)
2

Core Hacking Skills (6–12 months)

  • TryHackMe: Jr Penetration Tester path
  • Learn Nmap, Burp Suite, Metasploit basics
  • Study OWASP Top 10 web vulnerabilities
  • Earn eJPT or CompTIA Security+
3

Practice Legally (1–2 years)

  • Hack The Box (Easy/Medium machines)
  • Set up intentionally vulnerable labs: DVWA, Metasploitable
  • Earn CEH or PNPT certification
  • Start writing CTF writeups on GitHub/blog
4

Professional Pentester (2–4 years)

  • Earn OSCP — most respected pentesting cert
  • Work as junior pentester or bug bounty hunter
  • Bug bounty on HackerOne or Bugcrowd
  • Specialize: web apps, mobile, cloud, Active Directory

🔑 Key Skills

Kali LinuxNetwork scanning (Nmap)Web app testing (Burp Suite)Python / Bash scriptingMetasploit FrameworkOSINT techniquesReport writingSocial engineering

🎓 Certifications

CompTIA Security+Entry
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)Mid
OSCP (OffSec)Advanced
eJPT (eLearnSecurity)Entry
PNPT (TCM Security)Mid

📚 Free Resources

  • TryHackMe.com (free tier)
  • Hack The Box
  • TCM Security courses
  • PortSwigger Web Academy (free)
  • IppSec YouTube (HTB walkthroughs)
💻

Full Stack Developer

Build complete web applications — from frontend UI to backend APIs and databases. The most in-demand developer role.

Salary
$75K – $155K
Timeline
1–3 years
Demand
Very High
1

Foundations (0–3 months)

  • HTML & CSS: build real websites
  • JavaScript fundamentals: variables, functions, DOM, async/await
  • Git & GitHub: version control from day 1
  • Build 3 static projects for portfolio
2

Frontend (3–6 months)

  • Learn React.js (most in-demand library)
  • State management: useState, useContext, Redux basics
  • Build React projects: Todo app, weather app, portfolio
  • Learn responsive design and Tailwind CSS
3

Backend & Databases (6–12 months)

  • Node.js + Express: build REST APIs
  • SQL basics with PostgreSQL or MySQL
  • MongoDB for NoSQL projects
  • Authentication: JWT, sessions, OAuth
4

Full Stack & Deployment (1–2 years)

  • Build full-stack apps with Next.js
  • Deploy to Vercel, Netlify, or AWS
  • Learn Docker for containerization
  • Build 5+ portfolio projects, contribute to open source

🔑 Key Skills

HTML, CSS, JavaScriptReact / Vue / Next.jsNode.js or Python backendREST APIs & GraphQLSQL & NoSQL databasesGit & GitHubDocker basicsCloud deployment (Vercel, AWS)

🎓 Certifications

freeCodeCamp CertificationsEntry (Free)
AWS Cloud PractitionerBonus
Meta Front-End Developer (Coursera)Mid

📚 Free Resources

  • freeCodeCamp.org (free)
  • The Odin Project (free)
  • roadmap.sh/fullstack
  • MDN Web Docs
  • JavaScript.info
📊

Data Analyst

Turn raw data into decisions. Clean and query datasets, build dashboards, and communicate findings to non-technical stakeholders.

Salary
$55K – $110K
Timeline
1–2 years
Demand
High
1

Foundation (0–3 months)

  • Master SQL: SELECT, JOINs, GROUP BY, window functions
  • Get comfortable with Excel/Sheets pivot tables and formulas
  • Learn basic statistics: mean, median, standard deviation, correlation
  • Practice on real public datasets (Kaggle)
2

Analysis Tools (3–6 months)

  • Learn Python (pandas) or R for data manipulation
  • Build dashboards in Tableau or Power BI
  • Practice writing clear, non-technical data summaries
  • Complete the Google Data Analytics Certificate
3

Applied Projects (6–12 months)

  • Build 3-5 portfolio projects with real, messy datasets
  • Learn A/B testing fundamentals
  • Practice presenting findings to a non-technical audience
  • Contribute analysis to a real team project or internship
4

Growth (1–2 years)

  • Specialize toward Data Science, Analytics Engineering, or BI
  • Learn data warehousing basics (BigQuery, Snowflake)
  • Mentor junior analysts
  • Own a full reporting pipeline end-to-end

🔑 Key Skills

SQL (joins, window functions)Excel / Google SheetsPython or R for analysisData visualization (Tableau, Power BI)Statistics fundamentalsA/B testing basicsData cleaningBusiness communication

🎓 Certifications

Google Data Analytics CertificateEntry
Microsoft Power BI Data AnalystMid
Tableau Desktop SpecialistMid

📚 Free Resources

  • Google Data Analytics Certificate (Coursera)
  • Kaggle (free datasets + courses)
  • Mode Analytics SQL tutorial
  • r/dataanalysis
  • StrataScratch (practice)
🤖

AI Engineer

Build applications powered by LLMs and machine learning models — from prompt-based features to RAG pipelines and fine-tuned models.

Salary
$90K – $180K
Timeline
1–3 years
Demand
Very High
1

Foundation (0–3 months)

  • Solid Python fundamentals
  • Understand how LLMs work at a conceptual level (tokens, context windows)
  • Learn prompt engineering basics: zero-shot, few-shot, structured output
  • Build a simple app calling an LLM API
2

Core AI Engineering (3–9 months)

  • Learn RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) and vector databases
  • Study machine learning fundamentals (not just LLMs)
  • Practice handling streaming, rate limits, and errors from AI APIs
  • Build 2-3 real AI-powered projects end to end
3

Applied Projects (9–18 months)

  • Learn evaluation techniques for AI outputs
  • Study AI security basics: prompt injection, least-privilege for agents
  • Contribute to or build an agent-based tool with real tool-calling
  • Deploy a production AI feature with proper error handling
4

Growth (1.5–3 years)

  • Specialize toward ML engineering, AI infrastructure, or applied research
  • Learn fine-tuning and model evaluation at scale
  • Mentor others on safe, effective AI integration
  • Own AI feature architecture decisions on a team

🔑 Key Skills

PythonLLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)Prompt engineeringVector databases & RAGMachine learning fundamentalsREST API designDocker basicsEvaluation & guardrails

🎓 Certifications

DeepLearning.AI courses (Coursera)Entry
AWS Certified AI PractitionerEntry-Mid
TensorFlow Developer CertificateMid

📚 Free Resources

  • This site's free AI Course
  • DeepLearning.AI (Coursera)
  • Anthropic & OpenAI documentation
  • r/MachineLearning
  • Hugging Face courses (free)
🔒

Cloud Security Engineer

Secure cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP) — identity and access management, network security, compliance, and incident response in the cloud.

Salary
$95K – $175K
Timeline
2–4 years
Demand
Very High
1

Foundation (0–6 months)

  • Solid general security fundamentals (Security+)
  • Get hands-on with one major cloud provider (free tier)
  • Learn cloud IAM concepts: roles, policies, least privilege
  • Study basic Linux administration and networking
2

Cloud Security Core (6–18 months)

  • Earn AZ-500 or AWS Security Specialty
  • Learn Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) with a security lens
  • Study container and Kubernetes security fundamentals
  • Practice cloud security monitoring and logging setup
3

Specialization (1.5–3 years)

  • Earn CKS if working heavily with Kubernetes
  • Learn compliance frameworks relevant to your industry (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA)
  • Practice incident response specifically in cloud environments
  • Lead a real cloud security audit or hardening project
4

Senior Level (3–4 years)

  • Earn CCSP or CISSP for broader security leadership
  • Architect security for multi-cloud or hybrid environments
  • Mentor engineers on secure-by-default cloud practices
  • Own security posture for a production cloud environment

🔑 Key Skills

Cloud IAM (AWS/Azure/GCP)Cloud networking & firewallsInfrastructure as Code (Terraform)Container/Kubernetes securityCompliance frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001)Security monitoring & loggingIncident responseScripting (Python/Bash)

🎓 Certifications

AZ-500 (Azure Security Engineer)Mid
AWS Certified Security – SpecialtyMid-Senior
CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist)Senior
CCSPSenior

📚 Free Resources

  • This site's Linux Security & Hardening lesson
  • AWS/Azure official security documentation (free)
  • r/cloudsecurity
  • Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) resources
🕵️

SOC Analyst

Monitor security alerts in a Security Operations Center, triage incidents, and escalate real threats — often the entry point into a cybersecurity career.

Salary
$50K – $95K
Timeline
6 months – 2 years
Demand
High
1

Foundation (0–3 months)

  • Earn CompTIA Security+
  • Learn basic networking (TCP/IP, common ports, DNS)
  • Get comfortable reading logs on Linux and Windows
  • Practice on TryHackMe's SOC-focused learning paths
2

Core SOC Skills (3–9 months)

  • Learn a SIEM tool hands-on (Splunk free tier, Elastic)
  • Study common attack patterns (phishing, malware, brute force)
  • Practice incident triage: what to escalate vs. what to close
  • Understand the incident response lifecycle
3

Applied Experience (9–18 months)

  • Work Tier 1 SOC analyst role or internship
  • Earn CompTIA CySA+ for deeper analytical skills
  • Build familiarity with threat intelligence feeds
  • Document and present real incident findings
4

Growth (1–2 years)

  • Move toward Tier 2/3 analyst, incident response, or threat hunting
  • Specialize toward penetration testing, cloud security, or security engineering
  • Mentor Tier 1 analysts
  • Own detection rule tuning to reduce false positives

🔑 Key Skills

SIEM tools (Splunk, QRadar, Sentinel)Networking fundamentalsLog analysisIncident triage & escalationBasic malware awarenessTicketing systemsLinux & Windows basicsThreat intelligence basics

🎓 Certifications

CompTIA Security+Entry
CompTIA CySA+Entry-Mid
Splunk Core Certified UserMid

📚 Free Resources

  • TryHackMe SOC Level 1 path (free)
  • LetsDefend (free SOC simulations)
  • r/securityCTF
  • Splunk free tutorials

IT Career Salary Comparison

US-based salaries (median). Varies by location, experience, and company.

CareerEntry LevelMid LevelSenior LevelDemand
🛡️ Network Security Engineer$65K$100K$145K🔥 Very High
⚙️ System Administrator$50K$80K$110K📈 High
☁️ Cloud Engineer$75K$120K$165K🔥 Very High
🔄 DevOps Engineer$80K$115K$155K🔥 Very High
🔓 Penetration Tester$65K$100K$140K📈 High
💻 Full Stack Developer$65K$100K$145K🔥 Very High
📊 Data Analyst$55K$80K$110K📈 High
🤖 AI Engineer$90K$130K$180K🔥 Very High
🔒 Cloud Security Engineer$95K$130K$175K🔥 Very High
🕵️ SOC Analyst$50K$70K$95K📈 High