Any IT Professionals here?

[mwkurt]

Hello,

I was hoping that there are some folks here who do Networking for a living in the IT field, and hopefully get some questions answered. I am a 45 year old male who has been an electronic technician for 21 years. I am thinking that I want to change my career to the IT field and re-locate up to the Mid- Atlantic states here in the US. Here are my questions:
What should I specialize in...Microsoft Certification, Cicso or Unix/Linux?
With an AS Degree, what could be an expected starting salary around the Maryland area?
Is there a great need for IT professionals?
Any other information that you could provide would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark

[Guest]

Isnt that a misnomer?

[thevoelk]

I'm in MD at one of the military bases. From what I have seen around here, most of the employers are going to hire the person who has a four year degree over someone who has an MCSE. Reason is that around MD/DC/VA there are so many MCSE-mills that any idiot can pass the tests and it doesn't mean they know a thing. I'd say since you have an AS, hopefully somewhat relating to Computer Science, Information Systems, etc, that and a cert probably would help. Salary, as probably with most places, is based on experience. Around $55,000 to start, not bad but not ideal either.

My employer has paid for very cert I wanted after I finished my degrees. Right now, they're paying for my Masters since I'm tired of retaking the same Microsoft classes everytime a new OS is released. This is my experience in Maryland. By the way, expect to drop about $230,000 on a townhouse if you move up here, real estate is skyrocketing quick, part of the reason is below.

As a side note, an estimated 10,000 jobs are coming to the MD area due to the recent BRAC. The base I work at, Aberdeen Proving Ground, has the headquarters for Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM). The name (obviously) implies high-tech research and development. Now is probably a good time to move and get a foot in the door. The downside: You'll need a Security Clearance, probably a Top Secret. You don't have to currently hold one, but you will most likely be put in for one.

[Supreme2k]

That's a hard field to get into anywhere, especially with only an AS. You may want to get all three certifications, but specifically Cisco for Networking.

Check something like Monster.com to find salaries. There may even be local job searches for Maryland.

Odly enough, I typed in http://marylandjobs.com/ , and there it was.

[Dv8ted2]

I have an AAS degree. I got into desktop support. I plan to get the Network+ and my CCNA.