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
Phase 1: Pass CompTIA A+ and build a home lab
Phase 2: Land a helpdesk or field tech role
Phase 3: Pick your specialization within 18 months