Computer systems analysts
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Computer Systems Analysts: Analyze science, engineering, business, and all other data processing problems for application to electronic data processing systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Computer systems analysts held about 487,000 jobs in 2004; about 28,000 were self-employed.
Although they are increasingly employed in every sector of the economy, the greatest concentration of these workers is in the computer systems design and related services industry. Firms in this industry provide 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 for clients; and other computer services, such as disaster recovery services and software installation. Computer systems analysts are also employed by governments, insurance companies, financial institutions, Internet service providers, data processing services firms, and universities.
A growing number of systems analysts are employed on a temporary or contract basis; many of these individuals are self-employed, working independently as contractors or consultants. For example, a company installing a new computer system may need the services of several systems analysts just to get the system running. Because not all of the analysts would be needed once the system is functioning, the company might contract for such employees with a temporary help agency or a consulting firm or with the systems analysts themselves. Such jobs may last from several months up to 2 years or more. This growing practice enables companies to bring in people with the exact skills the firm needs to complete a particular project, rather than having to spend time or money training or retraining existing workers. Often, experienced consultants then train a company’s in-house staff as a project develops.
Median annual earnings of computer systems analysts were $66,460 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $52,400 and $82,980 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,730, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer systems analysts in May 2004 were:
| Federal Government | $71,770 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 69,560 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 67,230 |
| Insurance carriers | 66,840 |
| State government | 57,040 |
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting offers for graduates with a master’s degree in computer science averaged $62,727 in 2005. Starting offers averaged $50,820 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science; $46,189 for those with a degree in computer systems analysis; $44,417for those with a degree in management information systems; and $44,775 for those with a degree in information sciences and systems.
According to Robert Half International, starting salaries for systems analysts ranged from $61,500 to $82,500 in 2005.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer Systems Analysts)
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 systems analysts | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 1,840 mean earnings: $66,700 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,620 | $50,750 | $65,000 | $80,770 | $96,020 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 1,020 mean earnings: $70,430 | $42,210 | $53,750 | $68,580 | $85,330 | $101,890 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 70 mean earnings: $66,420 | $48,840 | $56,830 | $65,810 | $74,130 | $89,770 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 750 mean earnings: $61,640 | $34,400 | $45,500 | $61,050 | $72,170 | $90,670 |
| Utilities employment: 4,410 mean earnings: $72,160 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,270 | $59,700 | $71,850 | $85,830 | $96,100 |
| Utilities employment: 4,410 mean earnings: $72,160 | $49,270 | $59,700 | $71,850 | $85,830 | $96,100 |
| Construction employment: 1,130 mean earnings: $64,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,240 | $49,670 | $60,460 | $77,390 | $95,730 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 520 mean earnings: $68,840 | $38,890 | $51,100 | $66,290 | $85,910 | $106,680 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 120 mean earnings: $57,930 | $45,540 | $49,420 | $55,030 | $66,490 | $78,650 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 500 mean earnings: $61,080 | $40,340 | $48,980 | $57,450 | $71,970 | $90,150 |
| Manufacturing employment: 34,970 mean earnings: $71,190 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,140 | $55,100 | $69,370 | $86,260 | $103,610 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 690 mean earnings: $66,060 | $42,680 | $52,800 | $65,790 | $79,930 | $91,700 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 530 mean earnings: $65,700 | $38,550 | $50,020 | $64,510 | $81,610 | $94,780 |
| Textile Mills employment: 60 mean earnings: $63,680 | $41,680 | $52,620 | $64,750 | $73,830 | $86,490 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 120 mean earnings: $68,960 | $45,460 | $56,570 | $70,340 | $84,490 | $92,350 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 100 mean earnings: $55,590 | $35,800 | $43,940 | $54,970 | $67,320 | $78,450 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 540 mean earnings: $66,780 | $46,940 | $55,170 | $66,690 | $79,480 | $89,870 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 940 mean earnings: $60,240 | $37,510 | $45,680 | $58,280 | $72,950 | $88,930 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 410 mean earnings: $69,120 | $41,790 | $56,140 | $69,040 | $83,920 | $97,290 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 4,540 mean earnings: $74,790 | $47,010 | $58,450 | $72,730 | $89,820 | $109,490 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 390 mean earnings: $61,240 | $39,140 | $48,760 | $59,120 | $71,750 | $87,770 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 180 mean earnings: $59,350 | $37,750 | $47,030 | $59,380 | $71,450 | $84,960 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 440 mean earnings: $65,090 | $45,480 | $54,380 | $65,420 | $76,620 | $87,780 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 720 mean earnings: $62,240 | $41,240 | $49,890 | $59,850 | $73,090 | $87,880 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 1,980 mean earnings: $67,860 | $44,930 | $53,540 | $66,000 | $81,000 | $95,910 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 13,250 mean earnings: $75,470 | $47,350 | $57,800 | $72,380 | $90,720 | $111,610 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 1,230 mean earnings: $66,390 | $42,140 | $53,400 | $66,050 | $78,240 | $92,590 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 7,860 mean earnings: $68,880 | $41,100 | $53,790 | $69,250 | $85,000 | $96,130 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 240 mean earnings: $63,070 | $40,620 | $51,160 | $63,800 | $74,980 | $87,670 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 720 mean earnings: $67,770 | $41,590 | $53,260 | $67,170 | $81,750 | $91,380 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 25,680 mean earnings: $76,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $46,180 | $58,270 | $73,810 | $91,680 | $113,160 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 22,650 mean earnings: $77,080 | $47,250 | $59,250 | $74,710 | $92,540 | $113,960 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $68,620 | $42,880 | $52,660 | $66,430 | $82,820 | $98,940 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 1,480 mean earnings: $69,930 | $34,210 | $49,690 | $67,810 | $86,950 | $108,290 |
| Retail Trade employment: 5,500 mean earnings: $65,810 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,960 | $49,300 | $63,400 | $81,190 | $98,030 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 250 mean earnings: $68,710 | $46,480 | $57,800 | $68,090 | $80,770 | $92,510 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 3,780 mean earnings: $66,010 | $36,840 | $48,140 | $61,940 | $82,790 | $103,210 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 50 mean earnings: $57,390 | $38,020 | $44,670 | $53,240 | $71,650 | $85,210 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 40 mean earnings: $57,890 | $41,440 | $49,060 | $58,350 | $67,820 | $74,140 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 140 mean earnings: $59,710 | $34,200 | $42,080 | $58,400 | $73,910 | $91,310 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: n.a. mean earnings: $70,810 | $58,140 | $63,030 | $71,020 | $81,000 | $87,200 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 40 mean earnings: $63,250 | $26,040 | $44,440 | $65,430 | $83,910 | $96,220 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 30 mean earnings: $58,560 | $39,780 | $45,900 | $61,550 | $69,800 | $75,490 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 110 mean earnings: $65,040 | $40,660 | $52,500 | $64,830 | $78,110 | $90,230 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 570 mean earnings: $64,970 | $39,330 | $50,050 | $63,830 | $79,400 | $92,840 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 2,900 mean earnings: $65,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,530 | $52,830 | $65,170 | $78,330 | $90,160 |
| Air Transportation employment: 400 mean earnings: $60,650 | $37,190 | $48,070 | $60,650 | $72,760 | $86,600 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 150 mean earnings: $63,650 | $40,410 | $54,490 | $64,640 | $71,980 | $87,860 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 320 mean earnings: $67,690 | $43,050 | $54,020 | $67,430 | $81,540 | $92,810 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 500 mean earnings: $67,200 | $40,980 | $51,790 | $66,380 | $82,850 | $95,050 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 280 mean earnings: $62,270 | $35,870 | $47,730 | $60,810 | $75,630 | $90,300 |
| Postal Service employment: 450 mean earnings: $70,160 | $50,570 | $58,730 | $69,960 | $82,030 | $89,370 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 460 mean earnings: $64,830 | $47,860 | $55,710 | $65,040 | $74,410 | $86,290 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 290 mean earnings: $65,640 | $45,770 | $52,620 | $64,500 | $78,830 | $91,470 |
| Information employment: 46,990 mean earnings: $71,530 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,420 | $55,100 | $69,540 | $86,840 | $105,250 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 13,900 mean earnings: $72,630 | $44,610 | $55,350 | $69,990 | $87,900 | $108,020 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 300 mean earnings: $68,930 | $45,830 | $52,750 | $67,210 | $86,270 | $102,920 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 210 mean earnings: $66,030 | $46,060 | $54,930 | $65,020 | $76,420 | $89,430 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 390 mean earnings: $76,330 | $39,870 | $51,650 | $68,390 | $91,880 | $120,930 |
| Telecommunications employment: 12,110 mean earnings: $72,250 | $46,380 | $56,040 | $69,790 | $87,430 | $106,540 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 19,370 mean earnings: $70,100 | $43,050 | $54,390 | $69,080 | $85,600 | $100,670 |
| Other Information Services employment: 710 mean earnings: $76,830 | $45,270 | $56,320 | $72,390 | $97,340 | $118,200 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 62,580 mean earnings: $70,030 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,140 | $54,650 | $68,610 | $84,690 | $99,200 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 700 mean earnings: $72,460 | $48,370 | $59,790 | $71,800 | $85,840 | $96,080 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 18,450 mean earnings: $67,760 | $41,580 | $51,950 | $66,210 | $82,700 | $96,210 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 8,930 mean earnings: $77,630 | $46,510 | $58,710 | $76,550 | $93,680 | $112,740 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 33,820 mean earnings: $69,230 | $45,310 | $55,320 | $68,250 | $83,160 | $95,450 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 690 mean earnings: $69,760 | $42,070 | $53,620 | $67,410 | $83,940 | $102,080 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 1,140 mean earnings: $71,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,260 | $54,970 | $71,290 | $87,280 | $104,830 |
| Real Estate employment: 710 mean earnings: $71,320 | $46,110 | $56,510 | $72,160 | $86,020 | $100,420 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 290 mean earnings: $73,330 | $42,920 | $54,570 | $70,040 | $91,010 | $111,290 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 150 mean earnings: $68,940 | $38,020 | $45,270 | $68,700 | $89,700 | $106,240 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 130,280 mean earnings: $72,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,740 | $53,630 | $69,550 | $88,130 | $109,540 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 130,280 mean earnings: $72,890 | $41,740 | $53,630 | $69,550 | $88,130 | $109,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 30,890 mean earnings: $70,260 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,260 | $55,290 | $69,020 | $84,970 | $100,020 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 30,890 mean earnings: $70,260 | $45,260 | $55,290 | $69,020 | $84,970 | $100,020 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 13,500 mean earnings: $72,220 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,260 | $53,760 | $70,750 | $88,200 | $106,670 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 13,390 mean earnings: $72,270 | $41,210 | $53,770 | $70,820 | $88,270 | $106,780 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 110 mean earnings: $66,360 | $47,150 | $53,250 | $64,440 | $79,070 | $91,510 |
| Educational Services employment: 21,420 mean earnings: $57,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,030 | $44,360 | $54,600 | $68,600 | $83,840 |
| Educational Services employment: 21,420 mean earnings: $57,330 | $38,030 | $44,360 | $54,600 | $68,600 | $83,840 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 15,780 mean earnings: $60,580 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,780 | $47,820 | $59,170 | $71,950 | $87,080 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 1,820 mean earnings: $57,980 | $36,140 | $44,590 | $56,210 | $69,540 | $85,950 |
| Hospitals employment: 13,170 mean earnings: $61,300 | $39,640 | $48,660 | $60,040 | $72,500 | $87,360 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 260 mean earnings: $53,600 | $33,720 | $40,010 | $50,270 | $65,550 | $81,020 |
| Social Assistance employment: 530 mean earnings: $55,060 | $32,340 | $41,120 | $52,810 | $67,270 | $83,850 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 170 mean earnings: $56,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,220 | $40,070 | $54,390 | $70,710 | $89,490 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 50 mean earnings: $65,000 | $46,350 | $52,900 | $63,010 | $72,380 | $90,080 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 100 mean earnings: $49,860 | $27,060 | $31,930 | $46,940 | $59,760 | $84,560 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 280 mean earnings: $59,730 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,080 | $46,970 | $55,950 | $72,130 | $88,010 |
| Accommodation employment: 200 mean earnings: $59,170 | $37,850 | $44,040 | $55,000 | $71,930 | $90,190 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 80 mean earnings: $61,090 | $47,970 | $51,360 | $57,010 | $72,440 | $84,580 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 1,690 mean earnings: $67,030 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,310 | $49,920 | $66,010 | $82,070 | $96,620 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 850 mean earnings: $74,390 | $47,010 | $61,730 | $72,820 | $88,040 | $104,570 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 80 mean earnings: $53,310 | $26,090 | $32,670 | $53,960 | $67,760 | $84,440 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 750 mean earnings: $60,190 | $36,940 | $44,440 | $56,040 | $73,380 | $90,070 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 90,920 mean earnings: $69,910 (def) (IG) | $46,890 | $57,510 | $68,710 | $83,470 | $97,570 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 90,920 mean earnings: $69,910 | $46,890 | $57,510 | $68,710 | $83,470 | $97,570 |
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.