Entry-level IT roles are a great way to get your foot in the door and start building a long-term career in tech. But to succeed, you’ll need to show employers you can handle the real responsibilities of the job.
One of the best ways to prove you’re ready for that kind of work is by earning CompTIA A+ certification. This is a widely recognized credential that proves you understand the fundamentals of IT support, and many hiring managers specifically look for the A+ certification on resumes.
But certification is just one part of the picture. To land a high-quality IT role in California—one that offers good pay and benefits, stability, and growth potential—you’ll likely also need to:
- Demonstrate hands-on, real-world experience through real IT projects and practical work, so employers can see you can apply your skills on the job.
- Strengthen your soft skills, including communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, which can be a game-changer for impressing hiring managers during the application and interview process.
- Build a professional network in the IT field. This can give you early insight into job openings, connect you with people who can introduce you to opportunities or recommend you for specific roles, and ultimately help you land interviews faster.
That’s where Climb Hire can help. We’re a nonprofit organization that helps low-income California residents break into the tech industry.
Our completely free IT Support program provides the technical training for CompTIA A+ certification, hands-on experience, and personalized career support to help you land an entry-level IT role quickly. In fact, 80% of our alumni secure rewarding, well-paid jobs within a year of graduating.
In this guide, we cover exactly what you need to be competitive for entry-level IT roles and how Climb Hire can help you build the skills, experience, and connections that make landing your first IT job faster and easier.
Then, we’ll highlight some common entry-level IT jobs in California, providing typical starting salaries, key responsibilities, and what employers look for.
Ready to start your IT career in California? Get notified when the next session of Climb Hire’s free IT Support program opens.
Climb Hire: Free IT Support training that sets you up to get hired
Climb Hire is a nonprofit organization that helps low-income, underserved adults build the skills and connections they need to launch new careers in tech. Thanks to generous support from community partners and philanthropic organizations, Climb Hire is able to offer our six-month IT Support program completely free to students.
The program gives you everything you need to qualify for entry-level IT jobs in California. It’s a full career development experience that includes:
- Technical training that prepares you for the CompTIA A+ certification.
- Live, remote classes that fit your schedule.
- Hands-on, project-based learning that builds real-world experience.
- Soft skills training to help you stand out in interviews and on the job.
- Career coaching and job placement support after graduation.
- A professional network that connects you with peers, mentors, and employers in tech.
Technical training that prepares you for CompTIA A+ certification
The program focuses on the real skills employers expect from entry-level IT professionals. You’ll receive guided instruction and hands-on practice that prepares you for the CompTIA A+ certification, the minimum requirement for many entry-level IT jobs.
This certification is frequently listed in job descriptions as an alternative to a college degree. It offers you the chance to qualify for well-paying tech roles without having to spend years—and thousands of dollars—on school.
It’s really widely recognized, and employers see the CompTIA A+ as clear proof that you understand the fundamentals of IT and can troubleshoot technical issues efficiently.
Climb Hire’s training walks you through every core area covered by the two CompTIA A+ exams—Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). You’ll learn to:
- Install, configure, and maintain computer systems and mobile devices
- Diagnose and repair hardware and software issues
- Manage networks and internet connectivity
- Secure systems and data against common threats
These exams typically cost about $500. At Climb Hire, we take care of those exam fees for you.
Note: Through our program, you’ll also have the option to earn the Google IT Support Professional Certificate—an extra credential to boost your resume.
Live, remote classes that fit your schedule
Training at Climb Hire is live, instructor-led, and completely remote, so you can participate from anywhere (although learners must be residents of California or Colorado). This format combines the best of both worlds—the accountability of a traditional classroom and the flexibility of online learning.
You’ll join live sessions with experienced instructors who teach, answer questions in real-time, and make sure you fully understand each concept before moving on.
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The IT Support program runs for six months, with a total weekly commitment of about 20 hours. You’ll spend roughly nine hours each week in live online classes with instructors and classmates, plus around 11 hours completing assignments.
Because everything is remote, you don’t have to commute or rearrange your entire schedule to make it work. Many Climb Hire students balance classes with full-time jobs, family responsibilities, or other commitments while preparing for new IT careers.
Real-world, project-based learning
Our instructors teach more than the theory of IT. You’ll complete hands-on labs and simulations that mirror real-world IT environments. These exercises let you practice identifying and fixing problems, configuring devices, and supporting end users—the same types of tasks you’ll perform in help desk or IT support roles.
You’ll collaborate with classmates on group exercises, learning how to communicate and problem-solve together—valuable skills for any IT role.
By the end of the program, you’ll have practical experience to talk about in interviews and the confidence to step into an entry-level IT role from the start.
Soft skills that help you stand out and get hired
Climb Hire helps you develop the professional and interpersonal skills that make a lasting impact in your career.
Climb Hire devotes class time to developing soft skills—because strong professional communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities are necessary in the tech workplace. You’ll practice things like:
- Explaining technical issues clearly
- Collaborating with teammates
- Managing customer interactions with patience and professionalism
This preparation makes a real difference not just on the job but in interviews, where employers want to hire someone who can communicate confidently and think on their feet, demonstrating how they’d interact with coworkers and clients in real situations.
Climb Hire graduate Miguel Ruiz mentions how the soft skills training made a real difference during his job search:
“The soft skills I learned at Climb Hire really helped me to learn how to interact with interviewers when I was looking for a job. There were a lot of things I wasn’t aware of, like follow-up emails, thanking your interviewer for the opportunity to have you there. And those little things that make a difference when you’re looking for a job.”
Career coaching and job placement support
For six months after graduation, you’ll receive personalized career coaching to help you land your first IT job.
You’ll get one-on-one guidance with a Career Development Advisor who will work closely with you to:
- Build your resume, LinkedIn, and elevator pitch
- Prepare for interviews
- Refine your job search strategy
- Tailor your applications to match the roles you’re most interested in
Your advisor will also keep you accountable and motivated throughout the process, checking in regularly as you apply and interview for roles.
Connections and tools to land your first IT job
From the moment you join, you’ll be part of a community of classmates, alumni, and mentors. You’ll collaborate with peers throughout the program, learning together and helping each other succeed.
Around 77% of graduates say the community stands out as one of the most valuable parts of their experience at Climb Hire.
On top of that, as an alumnus, you’ll gain access to exclusive professional services that continue supporting you after the program ends, including:
- A free one-year LinkedIn Premium membership to expand your professional reach and connect directly with hiring managers.
- Access to Climb Hire’s Alumni Portal, with curated job posts, application tracking tools, and AI-powered job search assistance.
- An active network of tech professionals in California and beyond—connections that often lead to job referrals and faster employment.
With this level of training and support, it makes sense that more than 80% of Climb Hire alumni land jobs within a year of finishing the program. Some have gone on to work at big-name companies like Google, Salesforce, and IBM.
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Note: To join Climb Hire, you must be a California or Colorado resident ages 24–40 earning $30k or less per year.
Apply now for Climb Hire’s free IT Support program and get the certification and support to land entry-level IT jobs in California.
7 common entry-level IT jobs in California
Once you’ve earned your CompTIA A+ certification, you’ll be qualified for a wide range of entry-level IT jobs in California—including in major tech hubs like Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, and Irvine. Many of these positions are also available remotely, giving you more flexibility in where and how you work.
These roles make for a strong starting point for building experience and moving into more advanced or higher-paying positions over time, such as senior IT support, systems administrator, or cybersecurity specialist.
Here are seven popular entry-level IT roles, along with typical starting pay and main responsibilities.
1. IT support specialist
Starting salary range: $54k–$79k per year (Glassdoor)
How to get hired: Most employers look for candidates with a related associate’s or bachelor’s degree, CompTIA A+ certification, or equivalent hands-on experience. Strong communication skills and a good understanding of operating systems, networks, and security are also essential.
Job responsibilities: Provide technical support to employees or customers, troubleshoot software and hardware issues, maintain basic IT systems, and document solutions to prevent future problems.
2. Help desk or service desk analyst
Starting salary range: $53–$76k per year (Glassdoor)
How to get hired: Employers typically require CompTIA A+ certification or related experience in customer service and troubleshooting. Strong communication skills and the ability to solve problems quickly are key, since this is often the first point of contact for IT issues.
Job responsibilities: Answer help requests, figure out what’s causing technical problems, fix common software and hardware issues, and pass more complex requests to senior team members.
3. Desktop support technician
Starting salary range: $52k–$72k per year (Glassdoor)
How to get hired: Hiring managers often prefer entry-level technicians to have a college degree, equivalent experience, or certifications such as CompTIA A+ and Microsoft Certified. Experience with troubleshooting PC hardware and Windows operating systems is a major plus.
Job responsibilities: Set up, maintain, and repair desktop computers, laptops, and other devices. Help employees with software installations and system updates to keep everything running smoothly.
4. Field service technician
Starting salary range: $52k–$75k per year (Glassdoor)
How to get hired: Employers usually want candidates with CompTIA A+ certification and hands-on experience installing or repairing IT equipment. You’ll also need a valid driver’s license since this role involves travel.
Job responsibilities: Visit different job sites to install and fix hardware or network systems. Help clients solve on-site connectivity issues and make sure their systems are working properly.
5. Computer systems support technician
Starting salary range: $64k–$104k per year (Glassdoor)
How to get hired: Most employers look for CompTIA A+ certification or a related bachelor’s or associate’s degree. A strong understanding of hardware components, operating systems, and network basics is important, along with clear communication skills for supporting both technical and non-technical users.
Job responsibilities: Install and configure computer systems, test hardware and software performance, assist users with technical issues, and keep systems secure and up to date. Support information technology teams with upgrades, maintenance, and troubleshooting across multiple departments.
6. Network support tech
Starting salary range: $70k–$115k per year (Glassdoor)
How to get hired: Hiring managers often want candidates with CompTIA A+ and Network+ certification, a computer science degree, or equivalent years of experience with routers, switches, configuration, and connectivity troubleshooting. Attention to detail and problem-solving skills are must-haves for these technical roles.
Job responsibilities: Monitor and maintain network connections, troubleshoot performance issues, and help configure or secure the systems that keep networks running reliably. Work with senior network engineers to make sure systems are secure and running efficiently.
7. Data center technician
Starting salary range: $53k–$76k per year (Glassdoor)
How to get hired: Candidates often need CompTIA A+ certification and some experience working with computer hardware. Physical stamina and attention to detail are necessary for maintaining servers and cabling.
Job responsibilities: Install, monitor, and maintain servers and network equipment in a data center environment. Replace hardware components and ensure systems stay online.
Ready to land your first IT job in California? Choose Climb Hire.
Landing an entry-level IT job means showing employers that you have what it takes to succeed in the role: the industry-standard certification, real hands-on experience, and strong soft skills. Having a professional network that opens doors to great opportunities doesn’t hurt either.
Climb Hire’s completely free IT Support program helps you build all of that:
- Earn CompTIA A+ certification, the most recognized credential for entry-level IT roles.
- Gain real-world experience through hands-on projects and labs.
- Develop soft skills that help you communicate clearly and stand out in interviews.
- Join a network of peers, mentors, and employers who can help you discover opportunities and land your first IT role faster.
Apply to Climb Hire’s IT Support program and get the skills and support to launch your career in tech.