Computer and Information Systems Managers: Job Description
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
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The Daily Work of Computer and Information Systems Managers Do?
Typical responsibilities of computer and information systems managers include:
- Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
- Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
- Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
- Provide users with technical support for computer problems.
- Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
- Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, or participate in staffing decisions.
- Stay abreast of advances in technology.
What Computer and Information Systems Managers Need to Know
Successful computer and information systems managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Computer and Information Systems Managers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Application Development Director
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
- Computer Operations Manager
- Computer Programming Manager
- Computer Security Manager
- Computer Systems Information Director
- Computer and Information Systems Manager
- Computing Services Director
Employment and Demand
There are about 53,407 computer and information systems managers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Computer and Information Systems Managers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $175,079 |
| Hourly median | $84.17 |
| 10th percentile | $117,200 |
| 25th percentile | $146,139 |
| 75th percentile | $204,019 |
| 90th percentile | $232,958 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Computer and Information Systems Managers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $211,340 |
| New York | $209,980 |
| Washington | $206,420 |
| Massachusetts | $203,300 |
| New Jersey | $196,480 |
| Virginia | $192,870 |
| District of Columbia | $191,880 |
| Delaware | $180,960 |
| Colorado | $180,240 |
| Oregon | $178,210 |
| New Hampshire | $177,160 |
| Minnesota | $171,750 |
| Maryland | $171,570 |
| Georgia | $169,170 |
| North Carolina | $167,550 |
| Texas | $167,320 |
| Illinois | $165,720 |
| Rhode Island | $165,030 |
| Florida | $164,620 |
| Connecticut | $164,460 |
| Ohio | $163,260 |
| Utah | $162,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $161,570 |
| Arizona | $160,900 |
| South Dakota | $160,850 |
| Michigan | $159,290 |
| Kansas | $154,830 |
| Tennessee | $149,990 |
| Wisconsin | $149,760 |
| Idaho | $149,290 |
| West Virginia | $145,430 |
| South Carolina | $142,490 |
| Vermont | $139,920 |
| Missouri | $139,740 |
| New Mexico | $139,330 |
| Hawaii | $138,020 |
| Nevada | $136,690 |
| Iowa | $136,610 |
| North Dakota | $136,300 |
| Indiana | $134,750 |
| Nebraska | $133,950 |
| Alabama | $133,500 |
| Maine | $132,930 |
| Oklahoma | $132,790 |
| Kentucky | $132,700 |
| Alaska | $130,700 |
| Louisiana | $128,230 |
| Arkansas | $118,230 |
| Mississippi | $117,350 |
| Wyoming | $117,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $91,730 |
| Virgin Islands | $88,300 |
Where Computer and Information Systems Managers Earn the Most
Earnings for computer and information systems managers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $205,560 | 20.5% | 1.25 |
| Middle Atlantic | $190,730 | 18.6% | 1.31 |
| New England | $187,735 | 6.2% | 1.54 |
| Southwest | $164,550 | 14.7% | 1.22 |
| Southeast | $162,906 | 19.7% | 0.88 |
| Rocky Mountains | $161,746 | 3.7% | 0.99 |
| Great Lakes | $158,980 | 11.3% | 0.84 |
| Plains States | $150,907 | 5.1% | 0.79 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Computer and Information Systems Managers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $221,810 | 26,640 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $212,450 | 13,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $212,400 | 56,180 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $207,150 | 22,280 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $202,270 | 1,350 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $200,790 | 760 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $193,370 | 7,620 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $191,880 | 20,770 |
Top Industries Employing Computer and Information Systems Managers
The bulk of computer and information systems managers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 205,040 | $174,010 |
| Information | 85,400 | $196,060 |
| Finance and Insurance | 78,960 | $176,570 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 71,800 | $172,830 |
| Manufacturing | 41,050 | $174,790 |
| Educational Services | 30,810 | $127,360 |
| Wholesale Trade | 27,610 | $170,400 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 20,380 | $163,100 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Web Services AWS software (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Cassandra (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Apache Maven (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Apache Tomcat (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Content workflow software: Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C# (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Eclipse IDE (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for computer and information systems managers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Sitting
How to Become Computer and Information Systems Managers
Entry-level computer and information systems managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Project Management Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Computer Systems Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Information Security Analysts (Supplemental)
- Computer Network Support Specialists (Supplemental)
- Computer User Support Specialists (Supplemental)
- Computer Network Architects (Primary-Long)
- Database Administrators (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Students preparing for computer and information systems managers typically earn programs in:
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
10 programs across 6 majors
- Computer Information Systems
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Information Science
- Computer Systems Networking
- Computer Software Applications
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-3021.00 (Computer and Information Systems Managers).
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