The great thing about working in the IT industry is that the only glass ceiling that really exists is the one you place over yourself. It does require a lot of time, study, and effort, but you can "easily" reach your earnings goals of $70-85k.
I started out at the age of 19, with two years of college education, but no degree. I was making $10 per hour doing PC Tech work and network administration. After about six months, I got a job with a salary of $18,000 - which was actually less than the $10 per hour. Within six months I got another job making $26,500. Eight months later I was making $36,000. Eight months later I went back to the company I where I was making $18,000 at a salary of $48,000.
Now ... the caveat here is that during that two and a half year period I completed my MCSE certification - this was back in 1997. After a year with that company, I got a job making $65,000, which lasted me about six months, after which I took another position ... long story short, I haven't earned less than six figures since 1999, and I have made as much as $170k in the intervening years. I started in 1995, and I was making six figures by the end of 1999.
Now granted, I did have to move around a lot, and the highest amount of money I made was as a consultant/subcontractor putting in LOTS of hours. And lots of certifications, and lots of experience with high-profile clients and projects ... so my path is not going to work for everyone. Another thing to consider is the amount of work you're going to put in. If you are going to advance in the IT field, you are going to be working some very long hours. I've consistently put in 100 hour weeks with some companies - the higher your hourly rate as a consultant/salary is, the higher the expectations are going to be, and the more you will have to work. And also the region that will be working in has a lot to do with compensation. I've done all of my work in DC/Dulles Corridor, or Irvine (Orange County) CA. Obviously you aren't going to be able to command rates as high in Tulsa, OK.
Now I'm 32, and I'm looking at starting a family soon, so I recently took a permanent position with a company that requires less of my time. More of a "normal" workweek, but it still isn't 9-5. Maybe 50-60 hours per with, with travel up to 25% of the time as I get acclimated to the environment. I have 13 years of experience, and I'm making six figures.
All you have to do is dedicate yourself to technology and forsake your social life, and you can easily make $200-300k a year as an information technology consultant after about 5-10 years.