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Data Analyst vs IT Support Specialist

IT support is the easiest tech job to land; data analysis pays more but faces heavier competition and more AI automation of routine reporting.

Side by side

Data Analyst

SQL, a BI tool and three real portfolio projects beat a computer science degree in most analyst interviews. It's the cheapest tech path left.

Time to qualify
4–8 months of focused study
Entry pay
$55k–$72k
Experienced pay
$85k–$130k as a senior or analytics engineer
Training cost
$0–$1,200 using self-paced courses and free tools
Credential
Portfolio plus optional Google Data Analytics certificate
Category
Tech
AI impact
Medium. AI writes queries, so the edge is framing the business question, validating data and communicating the recommendation.

Key skills

  • SQL joins, window functions and CTEs
  • Tableau or Power BI dashboards
  • Excel modeling and pivots
  • Python or R basics for cleaning
  • Stakeholder storytelling

How to start

  1. Phase 1: Learn SQL until it's boring
  2. Phase 2: Ship three portfolio projects
  3. Phase 3: Enter through an adjacent seat
Full Data Analyst roadmap Build my Data Analyst path

IT Support Specialist

The most reliable front door into tech. One certification plus a home lab gets you a helpdesk seat, and that seat leads to cloud, security or systems work.

Time to qualify
2–5 months
Entry pay
$44k–$56k
Experienced pay
$70k–$100k as a sysadmin, cloud or security engineer
Training cost
$300–$900 for CompTIA A+ prep and exams
Credential
CompTIA A+ (or Google IT Support certificate)
Category
Tech
AI impact
Medium. AI deflects password resets and simple tickets, so the durable value is hardware, networking and escalation troubleshooting.

Key skills

  • Windows and macOS troubleshooting
  • Active Directory and Microsoft 365 admin
  • Networking fundamentals (DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP)
  • Ticketing systems and documentation
  • Basic scripting with PowerShell

How to start

  1. Phase 1: Pass CompTIA A+ and build a home lab
  2. Phase 2: Land a helpdesk or field tech role
  3. Phase 3: Pick your specialization within 18 months
Full IT Support Specialist roadmap Build my IT Support Specialist path

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