Computer Systems Analysts Salary: $136,553 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 497,800 computer systems analysts nationally earn a mean of $136,553. Employment in the series shown rose about 11% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 3.6% annual decline.
Key Statistics
Computer Systems Analysts: what the data shows
Common questions about computer systems analysts careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a computer systems analysts?
Computer Systems Analysts is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 15-1211.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 497,800 workers.
What does a computer systems analysts do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Working with Computers, Getting Information, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge, Processing Information, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a computer systems analysts make?
BLS national median annual wage: $103,790 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $136,553 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $80,192 |
| 25th percentile | $102,523 |
| Median (50th) | $131,129 |
| 75th percentile | $165,170 |
| 90th percentile | $202,220 |
What education do you need?
For Computer Systems Analysts, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Systems Evaluation, Systems Analysis, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and knowledge areas including Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Mathematics. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is computer systems analysts in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 3.6% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -16.8%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -30.7%.
Current U.S. headcount: 497,800.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do computer systems analystss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 497,800 | 18.4% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 439,260 | 16.3% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 168,670 | 6.2% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 168,670 | 6.2% |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 119,480 | 4.4% |
| Finance and Insurance | 63,990 | 2.4% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Computer Systems Analysts in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Sales & Office Occupations | 1,441,580 | — |
| Marketing Managers | 384,980 | $161,030 |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,448,290 | $81,680 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 270,480 | $102,140 |
| Financial Analysts | 340,580 | $101,350 |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,584,420 | $102,950 |
| Information Security Analysts | 179,430 | $124,910 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Computer Systems Analysts workforce.
Employment Over Time
497,800 Workforce in 2023
The Computer Systems Analysts workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Computer Systems Analysts.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$136,553 Average Wage
In 2023, Computer Systems Analysts earned an average of $136,553.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Computer Systems Analysts.
Salary distribution for Computer Systems Analysts.
Employment Growth Projections
-3.6% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
175,600 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -16.8%
146,167 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -30.7%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Computer Systems Analysts.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Computer Systems Analysts and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Computer Systems Analysts employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Computer Systems Analysts.
Wage Trends by Industry
-2.8% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Computer Systems Analysts.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Computer Systems Analysts.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 55,460 employees, $132,940 avg wage
- TX: 48,150 employees, $114,350 avg wage
- FL: 35,660 employees, $106,640 avg wage
- NC: 25,350 employees, $112,060 avg wage
- VA: 22,730 employees, $120,880 avg wage
- IL: 22,350 employees, $96,560 avg wage
- NY: 20,950 employees, $115,250 avg wage
- WA: 18,230 employees, $133,710 avg wage
- NJ: 17,290 employees, $124,650 avg wage
- MA: 16,650 employees, $126,190 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Computer Systems Analysts.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 25,320 employees, $127,470 avg wage
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: 17,720 employees, $129,700 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 17,280 employees, $120,350 avg wage
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 15,940 employees, $100,020 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 15,260 employees, $124,220 avg wage
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 14,160 employees, $126,830 avg wage
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: 13,940 employees, $138,380 avg wage
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA: 10,950 employees, $149,600 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 9,500 employees, $117,430 avg wage
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC: 9,290 employees, $119,600 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Computer Systems Analysts.
Diversity
Demographic information on Computer Systems Analysts in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Computer Systems Analysts in 2023 was 497,800 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Computer Systems Analysts.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Computer Systems Analysts.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Computer Systems Analysts.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Computer Systems Analysts in 2023 were Computer Science, Information Systems, Business.
Common majors for Computer Systems Analysts.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Computer Systems Analysts workers.
Education level distribution for Computer Systems Analysts.
Skills
Computer Systems Analysts need many skills, but most especially Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Systems Evaluation, Systems Analysis, Critical Thinking.
Required skills for Computer Systems Analysts.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Computer Systems Analysts.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Computer Systems Analysts include Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Mathematics, Administration and Management.
Knowledge areas required for Computer Systems Analysts.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Computer Systems Analysts include Deductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression.
Required abilities for Computer Systems Analysts.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Computer Systems Analysts.
Daily Activities
Computer Systems Analysts spend their time on activities such as Working with Computers, Getting Information, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge, Processing Information.
Most important work activities for Computer Systems Analysts.
About
Computer Systems Analysts
The average yearly wage for Computer Systems Analysts was $136,553 in 2023.
SOC Code
15-1211 - Computer Systems Analysts
Insights and Analysis
High earnings profile: Computer Systems Analysts reports an average salary of $136,553, placing it among stronger-paying occupations.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 497,800 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -3.6%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.