Information technology technicians

How to become an iT technician

Official title: IT technicians

Also called: Technician, It assistant, It controller, It specialist, Is technician, It technician, It coordinator, Ict technician, It administrator, Esports technician, Network technician, Systems technician

IT technicians are responsible for the day-to-day running of IT systems and networks including the preparation of back-up systems, and for performing regular checks to ensure the smooth functioning of such systems.

Main tasks

Administers, monitors and supports internal/external networks, servers, email and security systems
Configures and sets up new server systems
Schedules and performs system maintenance tasks, such as loading user applications, programs and data
Analyses systems and makes recommendations to improve performance
Identifies problems, agrees remedial action and undertakes emergency maintenance if required
Performs server backup and recovery operations and restarts systems following outages
Acts as a liaison between users, outside suppliers, and other technical teams

How to become one

Entry is possible with a variety of academic qualifications and/or relevant experience. Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades and A levels/H grades together with an appropriate vocational qualification. Some employers may demand a relevant degree. Training is provided off and on-the-job supplemented by specialised courses. Postgraduate and professional qualifications and apprenticeships in some areas are available.

Ways in

Apprenticeship (England): Cyber security technician (level 3). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0865.
Apprenticeship (England): IT solutions technician (level 3). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0505.
Apprenticeship (England): Radio network technician (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0757.
University: Science degrees, Offered by 27 universities in the UK
University: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 26 universities in the UK

Pay · Outlook

Median full-time pay: £35,259 a year The middle half earn £29,277 to £44,389.
About 120,100 people work in this job now, and about 128,800 are projected by 2035. (+7.3%)

Questions people ask

How do I become an iT technician?

How much does an iT technician earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £35,259 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £29,277 to £44,389.

Is an iT technician a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 120,100 to about 128,800 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become an iT technician?

Not always. 58% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Science degrees; Computing & IT degrees; Cyber security technician (level 3).

Sources

Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.