High-Paying Entry-Level Tech Jobs You Can Get With No Experience [2024 Update]

High-Paying Entry-Level Tech Jobs You Can Get With No Experience [2024 Update]

The tech industry is booming. As digital transformation accelerates across industries, companies are scrambling to hire talent to build the digital products and services that are driving growth. This surge in demand, combined with a shortage of qualified candidates, has led to an explosion of high-paying jobs in tech.

Even entry-level tech jobs now command impressive salaries upwards of $60,000-$70,000 per year. What's more, many of these roles no longer require candidates to have a computer science degree or previous work experience.

In this guide, we'll uncover 15 of the top entry-level tech jobs that you can land without prior professional experience. For each role, we share key details on median pay, required skills, top employers, and how to get the experience needed to be a competitive applicant.

Whether you're looking to switch careers or break into the industry straight out of school, read on to find the perfect entry point into this dynamic and lucrative field.

Why Entry-Level Tech Jobs Are In Demand

The massive demand for entry-level tech talent is driven by two key factors:

Rapid Digital Transformation

The pace of digital transformation and technological disruption has accelerated exponentially over the past decade. Industries across the board – from finance and healthcare to retail and entertainment – are having to rapidly develop digital capabilities to meet changing consumer expectations and competitive pressures.

This digital gold rush has sparked huge demand for technical skills and talent to build mobile apps, websites, data analytics systems, AI solutions, and more. And with every company now a tech company, the need for entry-level tech workers who can support these digital initiatives continues to skyrocket.

Tech Talent Shortage

At the same time, the supply of qualified tech talent has struggled to keep pace with demand. It's estimated that there were over 643,000 open tech jobs in the U.S. at the end of 2021. The tech unemployment rate sits at an ultralow 0.3% - meaning there are more jobs available than job seekers to fill them.

With such an extreme talent shortage, companies are being forced to forego traditional degree and experience requirements to open up their candidate pool for technical roles. This trend is fueling explosive demand for entry-level tech workers from nontraditional backgrounds.

Why Entry-Level Tech Jobs Pay So Well

Beyond strong demand dynamics, compensation for entry-level tech roles also outstrips other industries for two reasons:

High Value Offerings

Firstly, technology powers virtually every aspect of the modern economy. The digital products and innovations entry-level tech workers help build and maintain provide tremendous value to businesses. This high-value output translates into above-average compensation.

Fierce Talent Competition

Secondly, the extreme tech talent shortage has forced employers to be extremely competitive on pay and benefits to attract and retain talent. Entry-level tech professionals are seeing higher starting salaries and more robust compensation growth trajectories earlier in their careers.

Key High Paying Entry-Level Tech Jobs

Now that we've seen why entry-level tech jobs pay so well, let's explore some of the top roles where you can get your start:

15. Brand Designer

Median Salary: $64,481

A brand designer works with companies to develop visual identities that communicate their brand values and personalities. Using graphic design software, you'll produce logos, color palettes, fonts, imagery, and other assets that bring a consistent brand experience to websites, products, marketing materials, and more.

Key Skills: Adobe Creative Suite, typography, color theory, branding

Where You'll Work: Advertising/design agencies, in-house marketing teams

14. Digital Strategist

Median Salary: $66,252

Digital strategists analyze website and campaign performance data to optimize digital initiatives to drive business growth. You'll employ analytics tools, research, testing, and analysis to improve user experience, increase conversion rates, boost rankings, and enhance ROI from digital platforms.

Key Skills: Google Analytics, digital marketing concepts, data analysis, critical thinking

Where You'll Work: Digital marketing agencies, in-house marketing teams

13. Motion Designer

Median Salary: $67,037

Motion designers create engaging animations and visual effects that bring websites and digital products to life. Using animation and video editing software, you'll combine graphics, text, video, audio and other multimedia elements to produce captivating user experiences.

Key Skills: Video editing software, animation, graphic design, storytelling

Where You'll Work: Design agencies, video production houses, tech companies

12. Web Developer

Median Salary: $67,416

Web developers use programming languages and tools to build the websites and applications that power the digital world. You'll translate site designs, layouts and wireframes into functional front-end code, back-end server-side logic, APIs, databases, and more using languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React.

Key Skills: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, responsive web design

Where You'll Work: Web development agencies, SaaS startups, ecommerce companies

11. Data Analyst

Median Salary: $67,815

Data analysts collect, clean, transform and analyze data to uncover insights that inform business strategy and decision making. You'll build queries, develop models, visualize data trends, and interpret statistical output to derive actionable recommendations for leadership.

Key Skills: SQL, Python, data visualization tools, statistics

Where You'll Work: Tech companies, healthcare, finance, retail, logistics

10. Visual Designer

Median Salary: $68,636

Visual designers develop aesthetically appealing designs and layouts for websites, mobile apps, marketing materials and other digital properties that align to brand guidelines and objectives. Bringing artistic vision coupled with user empathy, you'll combine color, typography, layouts, imagery and other elements to craft beautiful responsive experiences.

Key Skills: Graphic design software, UI/UX design, typography, color theory, branding

Where You'll Work: Design agencies, in-house product teams

9. Digital Marketing Manager

Median Salary: $70,082

Digital marketing managers create integrated strategies to promote brands and products across channels like paid search, social media, email, SEO, content and more. Using data and testing, you'll improve conversion paths to increase sales volumes, customer acquisition and other key performance indicators.

Key Skills: Digital marketing concepts, Google Ads, Google Analytics, campaign management

Where You'll Work: Digital marketing agencies, in-house marketing teams

8. UX Researcher

Median Salary: $70,670

UX researchers uncover user wants, needs, behaviors and motivations that inform the design of digital products and services. Using interviews, surveys, user testing and other feedback channels, you'll identify pain points and improvement areas that engineering and product teams can address to optimize user experience.

Key Skills: User research, data analysis, critical thinking, communication

Where You'll Work: Tech companies, design agencies, consultancies

7. UX Writer

Median Salary: $70,675

UX writers create microcopy like tool tips, error messages, notifications and other bite-sized text elements that help users intuitively navigate apps and websites. With a user-focused mindset coupled with strong writing chops, you'll craft interface copy that educates and assists at every touchpoint.

Key Skills: UX design principles, copywriting, communication, user empathy

Where You'll Work: Tech companies, digital agencies

6. Digital Project Manager

Median Salary: $71,228

Digital project managers lead planning, coordination and delivery of large-scale web development initiatives and technical projects. You'll create budgets,timelines and milestone plans and closely track progress to ensure on-time, on-scope delivery with maximum output quality.

Key Skills: Project management, team leadership, tools like Jira, budgeting, planning, communication

Where You'll Work: Development agencies, in-house IT/engineering teams

5. UX Designer

Median Salary: $71,784

UX designers map out and create blueprints for intuitive digital product experiences focused on user needs and wants. Using research, testing and design thinking, you'll craft user flows, wireframes, prototypes and high-fidelity visual designs that bring simplicity and delight to complex applications.

Key Skills: Prototyping tools, interaction design, user testing, UI design trends

Where You'll Work: Tech companies, agencies, startups

4. UI Designer

Median Salary: $73,533

UI designers create clean, attractive, on-brand visual interfaces and lay outs for apps, websites and software. With a sharp eye for aesthetics paired with UX sensibilities, you'll combine color schemes, page elements, iconography, typography, responsive layouts and animation to render elegant end products.

Key Skills: Graphic design software, interaction design, typography, color theory, branding

Where You'll Work: Tech companies, design agencies

3. Content Marketing Manager

Median Salary: $73,860

Content marketers produce valuable, relevant and consistent content like blog posts, videos, podcasts and white papers that engages audiences while indirectly driving business results. With creative ideation abilities leveraging data and insights, you’ll develop content strategies and detailed production plans.

Key Skills: Content planning/production, copywriting, SEO, Google Analytics, project management

Where You'll Work: Marketing agencies, corporate marketing teams

2. Quality Assurance Engineer

Median Salary: $81,148

Quality assurance (QA) engineers develop test plans and scripts that systematically check software for bugs, errors, crashes and other defects through manual testing and automation code. Meticulously scouring apps for flaws, you'll help uphold standards and optimize performance, security and user experience.

Key Skills: Programming for test automation, identifying defects, documentation, attention to detail

Where You'll Work: Tech companies, IT consulting firms

1. Software Developer

Median Salary: $85,079

Software developers architect, code and improve applications that power computers, devices, websites and other technology solutions using languages like Java, C++, Python and more. Collaborating with internal teams, you'll translate business needs into stable, secure and scalable software that solves real-world problems.

Key Skills: Programming fundamentals, debugging, specializations like front-end, back-end, full stack

Where You'll Work: Tech companies, IT consulting firms, startups

Getting Started with No Experience

As the list above shows, high-paying entry-level tech jobs span a diverse range of roles beyond just software development and engineering. With digitization exploding across industries, companies are seeking new tech talent with specialized skills in design, analytics, digital marketing, content and more.

However, breaking in as a novice can still pose challenges. To set yourself up for success when applying to entry-level tech jobs straight out of college or as part of a career change, be sure to:

Learn In-Demand Tech Skills

Identify the key skills and tools required for your target role(s), and invest time into building hands-on capabilities through online programs, coding bootcamps, self-study platforms and more. The skills section is critical for conveying your abilities to recruiters and hiring managers.

Build a Portfolio

Employers want to see examples and evidence behind listed skills on your resume. Compile past academic and passion projects into an online portfolio that highlights abilities key to the type of entry-level tech job you’re pursuing.

Get Credentials/Certifications

Relevant certifications signals to employers you have working knowledge and recent training on key technologies or methodologies required for a junior role. Explore offerings from vendors like Facebook, Google and HubSpot that align with your chosen field.

Network

Expand your professional relationships through events, conferences, online forums and social platforms. These connections help you unlock insider intel on available jobs and talent needs even before positions are formally listed.

Start Freelancing

Gaining paid freelance experience on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork is a great way to quickly build applicable experience with real-world examples for your portfolio – even if you have an unrelated day job.

Do Unpaid Internships

Short-term unpaid internships are another avenue to quickly gain vital experience at promising companies when first venturing into tech. The credits and credentials pay dividends in future opportunities.

Highlight Transferable Skills

Soft skills like analytical thinking, project management, creative problem solving and work ethic are equally important for entry-level tech jobs. Spotlight these appropriately on your resume and during interviews.

Future Growth Potential

Beyond commanding impressive starting salaries upwards of $60K, entering the tech industry in an entry-level role offers tremendous upside for future growth and advancement.

As the digital economy balloons over the coming decade, early tech professionals will find themselves situated in a thriving job market ripe with opportunities. The specialized skills built up early in your career will fuel demand for your talents as organizations continue scrambling for technical expertise across domains.

Junior employees who demonstrate strong performance and aptitude typically move into mid-level roles just 1-2 years after entering the field – pulling in $80K-$100K+ in compensation. Fast learning curves and an insatiable need for leadership help accelerate promotion timelines for high-achievers.

Down the line, opportunities abound to progress to senior, principal and director/VP levels overseeing growing teams and earning $150K+ over time by tapping into booming enterprise needs around data, engineering, design, Infrastruture, security and more.

The financial upside paired with dynamic, cutting-edge work delivered at scale makes entry-level technology jobs a compelling portal through which to enter the digital workforce. Capitalize on explosive demand for self-motivated talent by skilling up in one of the arenas detailed above to claim your place building the technological future.