In May 2025, the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations in the United States was $109,470. For all occupations combined, it was $50,980. That is a difference of $58,490 a year, and it is the main reason so many people start looking at IT as a place to build a career.
It is also where a lot of them stall. The usual route into those jobs runs through a four year degree, and plenty of working adults do not have the time or the money to pay for one. Certifications offer another route. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that many employers prefer information security analyst candidates who hold security certifications, and that some people enter the field with a high school diploma plus relevant training and certifications.
What the higher paying roles look like
Take information security analysts, a role that regularly works inside log and security platforms such as Splunk®. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $129,180 for the occupation in May 2025 and projects employment to grow 21 percent from 2025 to 2035, which it describes as much faster than average for all occupations.
Of course, those figures describe the whole occupation, and no certification guarantees an offer or a raise. However, a certification does give a hiring manager something concrete to look at. It shows you have already worked inside a platform their team runs every day, and that is valuable information to have about a candidate.
Where each Splunk certification points
The Splunk certification ladder has a few main rungs. Splunk Core Certified User covers searching, reports, and basic dashboards, and it has no prerequisites. Splunk Core Certified Power User moves into more advanced searches and analysis. From there, Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin points toward managing the platform itself, and Splunk Enterprise Security Certified Admin points toward security operations work. Each step asks you to do more, and the roles on the other side come with more responsibility.
Where AbleU fits
Most people chasing a raise cannot pause their lives to study. AbleU, the Ableversity training platform, was built with that in mind. It runs on web, iOS, and Android, the courses work in shorter sessions, and your progress saves so a busy week does not cost you your place. There is a free tier, so you can look around before you commit to anything.
Cost is the other half of the equation. Ableversity is a nonprofit, which is why the training costs less than the programs that run into the thousands of dollars.
Start with the first certification, see how the material feels, and add the next one when you are ready. A $58,490 gap between two medians is large enough to plan around, and the first step toward it fits into a spare half hour.
Check out AbleU and see what the platform looks like.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and Information Technology Occupations and Information Security Analysts, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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