Computer and information systems managers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Computer and Information Systems Managers: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
Computer and information systems managers held about 280,000 jobs in 2004. About 9 in 10 computer managers worked in service-providing industries, mainly in computer systems design and related services. This industry provides services related to the commercial use of computers on a contract basis, including custom computer programming services; computer systems integration design services; computer facilities management services, including computer systems or data-processing facilities support services; and other computer-related services, such as disaster recovery services and software installation. Other large employers include insurance and financial firms, government agencies, and manufacturers.
Earnings for computer and information systems managers vary by specialty and level of responsibility. Median annual earnings of these managers in May 2004 were $92,570. The middle 50 percent earned between $71,650 and $118,330. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer and information systems managers in May 2004 were as follows:
| Software publishers | $107,870 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 103,850 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 99,880 |
| Insurance carriers | 97,900 |
| Depository credit intermediation | 86,450 |
According to Robert Half International, a professional staffing and consulting services firm, average starting salaries in 2005 for high-level information technology managers ranged from $80,250 to $112,250. According to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for those with an MBA, a technical undergraduate degree, and 1 year or less of experience averaged $52,300; for those with a master’s degree in management information systems/business data processing, the starting salary averaged $56,909.
In addition, computer and information systems managers, especially those at higher levels, often receive more employment-related benefits—such as expense accounts, stock option plans, and bonuses—than do nonmanagerial workers in their organizations.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer and Information Systems Managers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Computer and information systems managers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: n.a. mean earnings: $96,980 (def) (IG) | $56,140 | $83,860 | $99,300 | $117,320 | $134,500 |
| Mining employment: 410 mean earnings: $102,710 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,820 | $80,090 | $99,440 | $120,040 | >$145K |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 250 mean earnings: $104,230 | $70,010 | $83,160 | $101,200 | $120,460 | $144,370 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 40 mean earnings: $86,490 | $48,260 | $58,970 | $77,750 | $104,440 | $140,670 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 120 mean earnings: $104,930 | $59,770 | $80,150 | $101,010 | $123,900 | >$145K |
| Utilities employment: 1,680 mean earnings: $97,730 (EC) (def) (IG) | $60,630 | $78,350 | $96,420 | $113,860 | $138,270 |
| Utilities employment: 1,680 mean earnings: $97,730 | $60,630 | $78,350 | $96,420 | $113,860 | $138,270 |
| Construction employment: 730 mean earnings: $92,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $57,830 | $72,120 | $88,490 | $111,240 | $136,650 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 400 mean earnings: $93,830 | $58,300 | $75,010 | $90,830 | $111,030 | $136,400 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 110 mean earnings: $94,090 | $62,440 | $70,690 | $87,310 | $111,520 | $137,200 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 220 mean earnings: $89,240 | $48,050 | $67,870 | $84,820 | $111,740 | $136,790 |
| Manufacturing employment: 26,450 mean earnings: $100,550 (EC) (def) (IG) | $56,490 | $74,150 | $95,590 | $121,740 | >$145K |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 660 mean earnings: $100,380 | $54,050 | $74,350 | $97,230 | $120,790 | >$145K |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 290 mean earnings: $100,570 | $57,320 | $74,580 | $98,700 | $123,510 | >$145K |
| Textile Mills employment: 290 mean earnings: $80,120 | $45,370 | $60,020 | $76,060 | $98,680 | $120,160 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 120 mean earnings: $69,240 | $38,760 | $46,660 | $66,530 | $86,550 | $106,850 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 290 mean earnings: $87,390 | $50,560 | $63,400 | $80,500 | $108,550 | $137,330 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $82,900 | $52,210 | $64,380 | $79,960 | $101,760 | $116,610 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 270 mean earnings: $96,420 | $58,470 | $72,840 | $90,220 | $114,080 | $143,310 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 1,080 mean earnings: $82,910 | $48,500 | $61,720 | $80,220 | $99,840 | $118,990 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 110 mean earnings: $119,710 | $73,040 | $92,980 | $114,880 | $142,180 | >$145K |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 2,680 mean earnings: $104,560 | $59,280 | $77,610 | $99,000 | $125,550 | >$145K |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 930 mean earnings: $83,300 | $47,710 | $61,410 | $79,150 | $99,370 | $124,910 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 140 mean earnings: $88,490 | $59,130 | $72,070 | $84,850 | $102,700 | $121,610 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 320 mean earnings: $83,660 | $51,660 | $66,830 | $82,830 | $99,150 | $115,690 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 1,340 mean earnings: $83,200 | $45,570 | $60,790 | $80,540 | $102,440 | $125,990 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 2,930 mean earnings: $89,820 | $50,620 | $66,070 | $85,330 | $108,560 | $136,690 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 9,270 mean earnings: $114,530 | $67,700 | $86,370 | $110,120 | $137,310 | >$145K |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 1,010 mean earnings: $92,310 | $53,800 | $69,570 | $88,860 | $112,360 | $137,650 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 2,370 mean earnings: $101,730 | $62,280 | $79,340 | $100,430 | $119,880 | $143,680 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 680 mean earnings: $78,660 | $43,510 | $57,820 | $75,430 | $96,790 | $116,970 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 1,520 mean earnings: $95,410 | $55,470 | $72,450 | $89,300 | $114,850 | $143,180 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 15,550 mean earnings: $102,400 (EC) (def) (IG) | $53,730 | $73,310 | $95,910 | $127,120 | >$145K |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 10,570 mean earnings: $105,320 | $56,360 | $75,720 | $99,110 | $130,580 | >$145K |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 3,330 mean earnings: $96,010 | $51,700 | $69,330 | $90,710 | $117,540 | $145,090 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 1,640 mean earnings: $96,600 | $45,030 | $64,010 | $88,290 | $122,540 | >$145K |
| Retail Trade employment: 5,180 mean earnings: $88,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,670 | $60,720 | $83,480 | $109,690 | $141,570 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 730 mean earnings: $74,010 | $33,670 | $49,570 | $70,420 | $91,240 | $115,610 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 200 mean earnings: $78,230 | $41,430 | $52,670 | $75,630 | $95,770 | $127,740 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 1,760 mean earnings: $93,870 | $51,020 | $66,460 | $86,540 | $113,740 | >$145K |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 80 mean earnings: $78,500 | $40,210 | $59,990 | $78,540 | $93,330 | $113,830 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 60 mean earnings: $71,390 | $41,710 | $50,650 | $64,720 | $88,750 | $112,220 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 270 mean earnings: $72,310 | $35,330 | $45,370 | $65,460 | $95,690 | $115,430 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 250 mean earnings: $90,950 | $46,630 | $61,890 | $82,370 | $110,680 | >$145K |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 150 mean earnings: $80,840 | $43,970 | $56,370 | $80,510 | $99,600 | $119,910 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 440 mean earnings: $73,470 | $37,440 | $46,590 | $69,840 | $95,470 | $115,460 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 1,140 mean earnings: $101,790 | $54,490 | $76,020 | $97,450 | $120,210 | >$145K |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 3,380 mean earnings: $91,980 (EC) (def) (IG) | $51,670 | $69,400 | $88,280 | $110,860 | $137,420 |
| Air Transportation employment: 540 mean earnings: $101,170 | $67,360 | $81,760 | $97,270 | $116,200 | $141,230 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 190 mean earnings: $109,820 | $77,620 | $90,690 | $106,030 | $120,170 | >$145K |
| Water Transportation employment: 180 mean earnings: $95,870 | $63,380 | $73,830 | $93,260 | $111,230 | $136,890 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 750 mean earnings: $87,670 | $45,790 | $61,130 | $85,180 | $108,670 | $134,930 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 230 mean earnings: $100,500 | $55,340 | $71,880 | $97,540 | $124,260 | >$145K |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 750 mean earnings: $90,530 | $49,500 | $66,460 | $85,780 | $108,750 | $139,470 |
| Postal Service employment: 100 mean earnings: $86,600 | $66,890 | $74,820 | $81,960 | $89,110 | $119,960 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 140 mean earnings: $85,620 | $52,370 | $64,380 | $84,080 | $105,620 | $121,290 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 440 mean earnings: $80,840 | $48,310 | $58,740 | $77,690 | $96,100 | $117,510 |
| Information employment: 31,760 mean earnings: $108,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $61,640 | $80,310 | $103,180 | $131,320 | >$145K |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 10,930 mean earnings: $114,040 | $63,560 | $82,620 | $106,740 | $138,680 | >$145K |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 740 mean earnings: $109,040 | $58,260 | $78,660 | $103,020 | $133,970 | >$145K |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 1,060 mean earnings: $101,330 | $58,220 | $74,670 | $95,600 | $120,590 | >$145K |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 790 mean earnings: $113,910 | $67,940 | $86,090 | $109,960 | $137,090 | >$145K |
| Telecommunications employment: 6,100 mean earnings: $105,160 | $61,750 | $78,820 | $101,970 | $125,400 | >$145K |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 11,820 mean earnings: $106,500 | $60,600 | $79,540 | $101,080 | $127,780 | >$145K |
| Other Information Services employment: 310 mean earnings: $101,640 | $53,740 | $75,040 | $95,810 | $124,020 | >$145K |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 32,350 mean earnings: $107,810 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,260 | $80,530 | $102,770 | $128,890 | >$145K |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 170 mean earnings: $97,290 | $64,000 | $78,860 | $93,990 | $113,830 | $137,030 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 11,140 mean earnings: $103,200 | $54,820 | $73,980 | $97,760 | $124,860 | >$145K |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 7,230 mean earnings: $123,360 | $77,030 | $95,490 | $116,360 | $144,430 | >$145K |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 13,220 mean earnings: $103,340 | $63,580 | $79,760 | $99,260 | $119,980 | >$145K |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 590 mean earnings: $107,250 | $63,510 | $82,140 | $103,350 | $127,730 | >$145K |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 1,680 mean earnings: $95,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,130 | $66,760 | $90,530 | $116,690 | >$145K |
| Real Estate employment: 1,130 mean earnings: $93,160 | $47,650 | $65,760 | $88,900 | $114,060 | $145,380 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 380 mean earnings: $95,840 | $44,100 | $66,290 | $90,690 | $119,700 | >$145K |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 180 mean earnings: $109,950 | $55,960 | $75,070 | $102,610 | $134,860 | >$145K |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 63,710 mean earnings: $110,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,210 | $80,400 | $103,980 | $134,450 | >$145K |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 63,710 mean earnings: $110,330 | $62,210 | $80,400 | $103,980 | $134,450 | >$145K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 21,060 mean earnings: $109,200 (EC) (def) (IG) | $63,710 | $80,850 | $102,480 | $130,100 | >$145K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 21,060 mean earnings: $109,200 | $63,710 | $80,850 | $102,480 | $130,100 | >$145K |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 10,860 mean earnings: $95,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,860 | $66,430 | $90,520 | $117,560 | >$145K |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 10,650 mean earnings: $95,820 | $47,800 | $66,560 | $90,690 | $117,760 | >$145K |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 210 mean earnings: $85,820 | $49,660 | $61,810 | $81,280 | $108,450 | $133,300 |
| Educational Services employment: 12,060 mean earnings: $82,780 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,110 | $60,680 | $78,870 | $100,310 | $123,780 |
| Educational Services employment: 12,060 mean earnings: $82,780 | $48,110 | $60,680 | $78,870 | $100,310 | $123,780 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 8,740 mean earnings: $85,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,090 | $63,480 | $82,400 | $104,130 | $128,120 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 2,220 mean earnings: $86,600 | $39,450 | $60,440 | $82,410 | $108,560 | $137,250 |
| Hospitals employment: 5,890 mean earnings: $86,130 | $51,050 | $65,240 | $83,170 | $103,550 | $124,890 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 230 mean earnings: $79,810 | $44,130 | $58,670 | $79,530 | $96,130 | $117,830 |
| Social Assistance employment: 400 mean earnings: $75,970 | $41,190 | $54,890 | $71,940 | $90,910 | $117,810 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 320 mean earnings: $90,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $51,680 | $63,840 | $83,950 | $111,580 | $141,370 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 140 mean earnings: $105,690 | $60,600 | $76,250 | $98,980 | $128,830 | >$145K |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 50 mean earnings: $85,760 | $51,840 | $64,740 | $81,320 | $105,940 | $126,000 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 120 mean earnings: $76,580 | $47,440 | $56,680 | $69,540 | $93,050 | $115,260 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 260 mean earnings: $84,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,890 | $58,210 | $79,100 | $101,020 | $129,490 |
| Accommodation employment: 190 mean earnings: $86,150 | $48,880 | $64,070 | $82,670 | $103,650 | $124,390 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 70 mean earnings: $80,550 | $47,110 | $52,230 | $66,840 | $90,590 | $145,070 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 2,900 mean earnings: $90,250 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,210 | $64,880 | $86,630 | $110,080 | $137,490 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 180 mean earnings: $99,400 | $54,420 | $76,750 | $95,880 | $119,270 | $145,050 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 80 mean earnings: $112,930 | $66,720 | $80,040 | $98,290 | $133,850 | >$145K |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 2,640 mean earnings: $88,910 | $47,650 | $63,800 | $85,510 | $109,030 | $135,140 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 20,220 mean earnings: $84,770 (def) (IG) | $56,970 | $69,510 | $84,660 | $101,900 | $115,610 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 20,220 mean earnings: $84,770 | $56,970 | $69,510 | $84,660 | $101,900 | $115,610 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.