Why can't you pay rent on an entry-level IT salary?
Help desk and junior sysadmin pay has stayed completely flat while the cost of living has tripled or quadrupled. This severe gap makes it impossible for entry-level tech workers to afford basic housing, which ultimately drains motivation and drives away qualified applicants.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1leaving the profession
- 2using bootcamps for quick entry
- 3relying on AI or outsourcing to vendors
- 4specializing narrowly for better pay
- 5Lowering training and onboarding timelines
- 6Offering unofficial perks and time-off
- 7Using managed service providers for co-managed support
- 8Leaving the job for a better-paying position oneself
- 9looking for better jobs in the same field
- 10considering pivoting to another industry
- 11planning to pick up a second job on the weekends
- 12considering going back to school for a PhD
- 13exploring relocation or remote work options
- 14getting a second job
- 15choosing health care plans with the highest deductible and saving up
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“i know a lot of developers born and raised here that are out of work, equally as talented . It should be criminal.”source ↗
“I just got my second paycheck, and I'm feeling so disappointed, surprised, and depressed about it.”source ↗
“So, with that taken out, and the garnishment, pension, taxes, etc...out of $1800, I get $789 every two weeks.”source ↗
“Now I see why so many teachers have a second job. I just wanted to vent to others who may understand.”source ↗
“For the last few years, we’ve had a revolving door when it comes to support technicians. My hands are tied as far as the salary I can offer but basically it’s below 20/hr.”source ↗
“My frustration is boiling over and I don’t know what to do anymore.”source ↗
“Because no one can afford rent on a help desk salary. I look at payrolls all the time as an accountant and I tried to break into IT during the pandemic.”source ↗
“You get less paid than you are worth because H1B exists”source ↗
“We now don't pay help desk people anything and wonder why we get bad applicants? Junior sysadmin salaries still suck.”source ↗
“They live in a world where everything costs 3-4x as much, while pay stays flat. Yet we wonder why they don't work themselves to death?”source ↗
“H1B is just exploitative of the worker AND of the native citizens who didn’t get hired.”source ↗
“I feel like my money is not enough and I am increasingly being the person to have to step-in for financial burdens in my family.”source ↗
“$95k in the Bay Area is pretty slim, no?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Why does everything feel so expensive and impossible to keep up with?
- 4Why are corporate accounting manager salaries so low?
- 3Should I take a very low-paying entry-level job out of desperation?
- 2Why do dream jobs pay so little?
- 5How to save money on a low income when expenses feel non-negotiable
- 2How to pay a mortgage after a sudden drop in income