IT Pro Snapshot: Salary, Education, and Mood

They often feel stressed and underpaid, but IT pros in the US generally are happy at work and plan to stick with an IT career.

Those are among the findings of a new study released today by Austin-based Spiceworks, which surveyed 607 IT managers, network administrators and help desk technicians in its network. The study provides insight into IT pros' salaries and compensation, career plans, education, and stress levels, and more.

Spiceworks found that most IT pros working full-time in the US make less than $75,000, and 41% believe they're not paid fairly. Network and system administrators make 35% more per year than help desk technicians, but have a median of 10 years of experience compared to the technicians' four years.

Thirty-percent of US-based IT pros don't have a college degree, but it doesn't really hurt them in the salary department, according to the study, which showed that IT pros with a college degree earn only 4% more. Moreover, women are more likely to have a college degree than their male co-workers, but are paid 6% less, the survey found.

While IT pros' stress and happiness levels vary depending on their IT role and company size, 62% of those polled reported being happy with their job. Sixty-six percent plan to stay in IT for the rest of their career.

Check out the Spiceworks infographic below for more of the survey's findings.

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