If you're making $80K in IT and want to break six figures, don't start by buying another certification.
Start with one question:
What specific job are you trying to qualify for?
Not “something in cybersecurity” or “a remote job that pays more.” Find an actual job posting with responsibilities you can compare against your experience.
That tells you whether you need new skills, a better resume, or simply more applications. Without that distinction, you can spend another year studying and earn exactly the same salary.
Three people making $80K can need different solutions
Imagine three IT professionals who earn the same amount.
Person A: Has relevant experience but isn't applying.
They manage Active Directory accounts, support MFA, work with security groups, and troubleshoot access issues. They see an Identity and Access Management (IAM) opening but assume they need an IAM title before anyone will consider them.
Their problem might be positioning, not technical ability.
Person B: Applies but struggles in interviews.
They understand routine support work, but can't explain how single sign-on functions or how to test an access policy.
Their problem may be a real technical gap. Another resume rewrite won't fix it.
Person C: Works somewhere with nowhere to advance.
Their employer has no identity team opening or promotion budget. Learning more could help them qualify elsewhere, but it won't create a position internally.
All three might want $100K. They should not follow the same career plan.
Find three IAM jobs and compare the responsibilities
Search for openings you'd genuinely consider, such as:
- IAM Analyst
- Identity Administrator
- Microsoft Entra ID Administrator
- IAM Engineer
Choose three postings that fit your location, experience level, and work preferences.
Read what the employer expects the person to do, not just the list of products.
For example:
- Manage users and groups in Active Directory.
- Investigate failed sign-ins.
- Configure MFA or application access.
- Support onboarding and offboarding.
- Document access changes and troubleshooting.
Microsoft's identity administrator role overview is a useful reference, but the actual employer's requirements matter most.
Sort each requirement into three categories:
| Category | What it means |
|---|---|
| Already know | You've done it and can explain your contribution. |
| Some experience | You've touched it but need practice. |
| Missing skill | You couldn't demonstrate it yet. |
Don't give yourself credit for knowing an entire platform because you've used one feature. But don't disregard years of relevant work because your title says “support.”
Build one project around a genuine gap
Suppose two postings ask for experience troubleshooting single sign-on, and you've never configured a test application with an identity provider.
That's specific enough to work on.
A useful lab could:
- Connect a test application to an identity provider.
- Confirm a successful sign-in.
- Introduce one reversible configuration error.
- Investigate the failure and document the fix.
Your finished project should show what you configured, what failed, how you investigated, and how you verified the result.
You don't need to build a miniature Fortune 500 network. You need evidence that answers a hiring question.
A higher salary isn't automatically a better job
Check the conditions of the role, not just the headline number.
A $110K offer might involve overnight on-call, long commutes, or constant travel. A slightly lower offer might give you remote flexibility and better experience for your next move.
Compare the base salary, schedule, scope of responsibility, and opportunities to develop. Your goal is a better career, not just an impressive salary screenshot.
What I'd do this week
- Save one IAM job you'd actually want.
- Write down three requirements you've already met through real work.
- Identify one missing skill you can learn or demonstrate.
- Choose a small project if you need practical proof.
- Apply now if you're already a credible match. Don't wait for a perfect lab.
I put this approach into The Six-Figure IAM Career Playbook, a $9 guide covering IAM career paths, three practical labs, resume positioning, certification decisions, and a 90-day plan.
It can't guarantee a salary or a job. It can help you stop guessing what to learn next.
Start with the job. Then decide what to study.