Computer Systems Analysts: Career Profile
Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
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The Daily Work of Computer Systems Analysts Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of computer systems analysts cover:
- Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions to restore normal functioning.
- Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer-related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.
- Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
- Use the computer in the analysis and solution of business problems, such as development of integrated production and inventory control and cost analysis systems.
- Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility so that information can be shared.
- Use object-oriented programming languages, as well as client and server applications development processes and multimedia and Internet technology.
- Analyze information processing or computation needs and plan and design computer systems, using techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling, and information engineering.
- Consult with management to ensure agreement on system principles.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful computer systems analysts combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Computer Systems Analysts Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Applications Analyst
- Applications Systems Analyst
- Automatic Data Processing Planner (ADP Planner)
- Business Systems Analyst
- Computer Analyst
- Computer Architect
- Computer Consultant
- Computer Equipment Analyst
Employment and Demand
There are about 131,639 computer systems analysts working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +8.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Computer Systems Analysts Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $71,253 |
| Hourly median | $34.26 |
| 10th percentile | $48,209 |
| 25th percentile | $59,731 |
| 75th percentile | $82,775 |
| 90th percentile | $94,297 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $127,660 |
| Washington | $127,420 |
| Colorado | $124,010 |
| New Jersey | $123,640 |
| Massachusetts | $121,580 |
| District of Columbia | $114,110 |
| Virginia | $113,500 |
| Rhode Island | $112,980 |
| Oregon | $111,140 |
| Minnesota | $106,740 |
| Connecticut | $105,860 |
| New York | $105,610 |
| Texas | $104,970 |
| North Carolina | $104,940 |
| Delaware | $104,070 |
| Alabama | $103,730 |
| Georgia | $103,380 |
| Maryland | $103,200 |
| Nevada | $101,810 |
| Arizona | $101,730 |
| Florida | $100,770 |
| New Hampshire | $100,700 |
| Oklahoma | $100,450 |
| Michigan | $100,240 |
| West Virginia | $99,050 |
| Ohio | $98,990 |
| Wisconsin | $98,790 |
| Vermont | $98,690 |
| Maine | $98,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,450 |
| Kansas | $97,300 |
| Indiana | $96,470 |
| North Dakota | $96,350 |
| Illinois | $95,920 |
| South Dakota | $95,850 |
| South Carolina | $94,740 |
| New Mexico | $94,570 |
| Utah | $93,330 |
| Missouri | $92,740 |
| Nebraska | $92,090 |
| Iowa | $91,670 |
| Louisiana | $89,800 |
| Montana | $89,060 |
| Wyoming | $88,790 |
| Hawaii | $86,700 |
| Alaska | $84,800 |
| Mississippi | $82,870 |
| Tennessee | $82,430 |
| Kentucky | $81,270 |
| Arkansas | $72,540 |
| Idaho | $68,810 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,940 |
| Virgin Islands | $56,650 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for computer systems analysts shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $124,677 | 16.7% | 1.06 |
| New England | $113,821 | 6.0% | 1.28 |
| Middle Atlantic | $107,776 | 14.7% | 1.10 |
| Rocky Mountains | $105,235 | 2.7% | 0.69 |
| Southwest | $103,833 | 12.8% | 1.03 |
| Southeast | $100,497 | 26.9% | 1.21 |
| Plains States | $98,261 | 6.0% | 0.91 |
| Great Lakes | $97,913 | 14.0% | 1.00 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $160,800 | 8,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $145,440 | 10,950 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $132,580 | 13,940 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $132,290 | |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $127,540 | 250 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $127,500 | 270 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $127,150 | 25,320 |
| Midland, TX | TX | $126,660 | 180 |
Which Industries Hire Computer Systems Analysts
The bulk of computer systems analysts work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 168,670 | $105,750 |
| Finance and Insurance | 63,990 | $104,910 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 59,610 | $109,210 |
| Information | 36,050 | $107,630 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 32,810 | $98,600 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 24,760 | $105,590 |
| Manufacturing | 23,750 | $109,680 |
| Educational Services | 20,170 | $88,680 |
Below are examples of industries where computer systems analysts work:
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: AJAX (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Amazon DynamoDB (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Redshift (hot technology)
- Cloud-based management software: Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Web Services AWS software (hot technology)
- Expert system software: Ansible software (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Cassandra (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of computer systems analysts is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level computer systems analysts positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Managers (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Health Informatics Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Information Security Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Computer Network Support Specialists (Supplemental)
- Computer User Support Specialists (Supplemental)
- Computer Network Architects (Supplemental)
- Database Administrators (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for computer systems analysts commonly pursue programs in:
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
4 programs across 3 majors
Sources
This profile draws on 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: 15-1211.00 (Computer Systems Analysts).
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