According to a recent report from the Office of National Statistics in the UK, the median gross annual earnings for full-time workers in the UK was GBP 24,000 for the tax year ending in April 2007. But the numbers from the same report make it clear it is not all that difficult to do better than that. They also make it clear that IT network managers are among the best paid of these professions.



To be more specific, IT network managers made an average salary of GBP 30,972 according to the survey. That's almost 30% above the average.

What do IT network managers do? They install, maintain, and support new and existing computer networks within the organization. That makes them a very important part of the IT department of any company or organization.

As we all know these days, virtually every corporation, association, health care organization, government department, or small business is completely dependent upon their computer infrastructure for the day to day operation of their affairs. The IT network manager keeps the company running. That explains why it is such a challenging and highly-paid profession.

According to the survey, the average salary of IT network managers is actually higher than that of many other high demand positions as indicated by the following table:

In-house accountants - GBP 30,879

Call centre managers - GBP 29,500

Management accountants - GBP 30,264

Marketing managers - GBP 30,000

Relationship managers - GBP 30,264

Nutritionists - GBP 30,000

Geologists - GBP 30,500

Paramedics - GBP 30,424

Air Traffic Controllers - GBP 30,000

Another real advantage of becoming involved in the IT industry is that it is a rapidly developing and constantly changing field. So there is rarely a dull moment. That also means that the IT professional needs to continually upgrade his or her knowledge, learn new technologies as they are introduced, and stay on top of developments in the industry.

As a result there is an extremely robust range of training alternatives for established IT professionals and just about anybody else looking for a challenging career in the IT industry. This makes it one of the few fields where it is possible for a new entrant to take an entire certification program online, at their own pace.

So for the person who really wants it, there are no serious barriers to becoming a IT professional. In fact many people who enroll in online IT training programmes can often find jobs well before they have completed their entire programme. Companies and organizations are often prepared to hire future graduates after just one or two successfully completed IT training courses.

Because of the demand for IT professionals, the better IT training organizations will even offer job placement guarantees for graduates who complete their programme and display the necessary commitment required to be successful in the field. This is clearly a profession that anyone with the right aptitude and motivation should consider.