CompTIA A+ jobs outlook for 2024

The CompTIA A+ certification is recognized across the industry as a foundational element of any IT professional's resume. For the one million-plus certified professionals involved in endpoint management or tech support in any fashion, CompTIA A+ shows employers that they have the skills needed and know how to apply them to support networks and digital assets. 

In the evolving IT and cybersecurity landscape, CompTIA A+ certification is a benchmark, an industry standard that sets mere practitioners apart from professionals. The exam material is constantly updated to reflect the most recent technologies, techniques and threats that impact the cyber arena. 

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The evolving role of CompTIA A+ in cybersecurity 

CompTIA A+ certification plays an increasingly important role in cybersecurity because it builds a foundation of IT, troubleshooting, and security skills essential for numerous career paths. As a CompTIA A+ certified professional, you understand how to deal with threat actors and some of the vulnerabilities that make specific hardware and software susceptible to attack. 

During the exam, you demonstrate your knowledge of how different operating systems work and how to troubleshoot and optimize their security. This makes CompTIA A+ an effective complement for other cybersecurity certifications, such as CompTIA's Security+ and CySA+ certs. You can use CompTIA A+ as a foundation to add other cybersecurity certifications and earn a competitive salary. 

Job market overview for CompTIA A+ certified professionals in 2024 

The current job market for CompTIA A+ certified individuals is vital. According to Payscale.com, the average U.S. salary is $70,000, significantly higher than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports as the median across all industries is $46,310. 

Digital transformation and AI are changing the market and impacting the work of those A+-certified pros. As a result, it's essential to learn quickly and be an asset as these organizations implement changes to their systems. 

For example, a manufacturer that wants to maximize its output without increasing spending may use an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution to analyze the production of its equipment, how much it costs to run and maintain it, and fine-tune its supply chain and inventory system. A new hire with CompTIA A+ skills can help the company code and configure a solution and implement and maintain it. 

Although roles evolve due to AI and digital transformation (see above comment), it's also not a radical shift. So, still focus on the basics but understand that automation and other AI tools will be incorporated into tasks and duties (if not already). 

The role of a CompTIA A+-certified professional is evolving due to AI and digital transformation initiatives. If you're pursuing your A+ cert, you can expect to see AI and other automation tools incorporated into your tasks and duties. For instance, you may need to exercise knowledge of: 

Top CompTIA A+ jobs and their role in cybersecurity (2024) 

With a CompTIA A+ certification, you're able to assume several job roles in a range of cybersecurity careers, including: 

Service desk analyst 

A service desk analyst gives tech support to end-users who reach out via phone, email, text message, live chat, video conference or in person. They manage incidents, as well as service requests. In this role, you may also guide people through troubleshooting issues independently. 

As a service desk analyst, you may have to deal with various cybersecurity issues, such as malware infections, phishing or even the effects of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) or ransomware attacks. In many cases, you may be the first point of contact for someone impacted by an attack and helping them make the right decisions can be vital to mitigating the assault. 

Technical support specialist 

A tech support specialist handles more tech-heavy issues than a service desk analyst, such as fixing malfunctioning devices, configuring systems and performing system diagnostics. 

Your day-to-day tasks as a tech support specialist often intersect with cybersecurity because you may have to implement security patches, update an organization's software to address vulnerabilities and design and implement security-focused configurations. 

Field service technician 

A field service technician travels to clients and helps install and maintain their software and hardware. This hands-on role requires many of the same Comp-TIA A+ skills as a technical support specialist. 

In this role, you may have to engineer ways of preventing attackers from gaining physical access to servers, workstations and other devices. It can also involve training people on how to practice effective cyber hygiene. 

Network administrator 

As a network administrator, you manage networks and their various components and software. This requires configuring them and optimizing their performance to meet an organization's goals. 

Network admins have security at the top of their list of priorities because networks are familiar targets for attackers. By monitoring network activity, endpoints and user behavior, a network admin can prevent attacks or contain them to minimize their impact. 

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Security analyst 

A security analyst focuses on identifying, monitoring and analyzing threats and implementing measures to prevent and mitigate them. In addition, in this role, you may have to respond to attacks or manage teams of individuals responsible for mitigating threats. Sometimes, a security analyst may be called upon to train employees regarding their responsibilities in maintaining a secure environment. 

Salary expectations and career progression 

Here are some of the salaries you can expect as a CompTIA A+ certified professional early in your career. The figures below are the averages of the wages reported on Salary.com and Glassdoor.com for each position: 

Your pay may vary according to location as in many other business sectors. For instance, an IT specialist in California may make an average of $96,774 per year, while someone with the same job in Minnesota may earn an average of $76,000. The amount you get paid also depends on your employer, their budget and your responsibilities. 

Your career progression as a CompTIA A+ certified individual can be quick, especially if you hone your skills and systematically build your portfolio. For instance, if you progress to become a Lead IT Specialist, you can expect to earn around $141,483 in California, over 46% more than a regular IT specialist. 

The demand for CompTIA A+ in different industries 

While nearly every industry has a demand for CompTIA A+ certified professionals, the following have an extreme need: 

CompTIA A+ and the future of cybersecurity 

CompTIA A+ is adapting to the cybersecurity challenges of the future by pivoting its focus and adding new content to address emerging threats. For example, the most recent iteration of the exam covers issues regarding SaaS applications, software, hardware and connectivity vulnerabilities that arise in a hybrid or remote work environment. 

It also covers how to keep multiple operating systems secure and environments that include IoT devices. In this way, CompTIA A+ keeps in tune with the work landscape as it becomes more mobile and flexible. 

Building a career in cybersecurity with CompTIA A+ 

To leverage CompTIA A+ for a lucrative cybersecurity career, you can take the following steps: 

As you add to your qualifications, you can follow the progression of the CompTIA core, which consists of the following in series: 

Real-world success stories 

There's no shortage of CompTIA success stories, including Angel Sayani, who earned eight certifications by the time she was 19. Using her CompTIA credentials as a basis, she founded her own AI and cybersecurity company, Intellchromatics. She credits the performance-based questions on the CompTIA exams with helping her resume stand out from the competition. 

Similarly, help desk analyst Paul Busby credits his A+ certification with providing him with access to more professional opportunities. He notes, "I have had my A+ cert for about four years now, and it has opened so many doors for me to get job after job in a very competitive market." 

The help desk is a common entry point for IT and cybersecurity roles. From there, you can grow into a variety of roles. FireEye's former chief security strategist started his career in the helpdesk before moving into cybersecurity, becoming a CEO and eventually founding his own company. 

Preparing for a CompTIA A+ career in 2024 

Preparing for a cybersecurity career depends on more than earning your certification. You should also: 

Most importantly, build new skills and earn more certifications to empower you to meet the needs of different organizations. 

Earn your A+ certification, guaranteed!

Enroll in a CompTIA A+ Boot Camp and earn one of the most popular entry-level certifications — guaranteed.

Get Pricing

CompTIA A+ jobs outlook  

In the 2024 job market, an A+ certification stands out, showing you can implement and maintain various IT solutions. CompTIA A+ certification is an effective avenue for pursuing or advancing your career. Now is a great time to start preparing; the following resources can help you get a leg up. 

Additional resources 

Explore CompTIA A+ certification and the cybersecurity courses you need to earn it by connecting with Infosec today.