Today’s society depends on technology. As big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things dominate how we work and live our lives, computer information system jobs are created. Those with the right education and training thrive. They enjoy exciting, lucrative careers. Getting in on the ground floor of emerging careers in information technology means knowing the right career path, from education to entry-level computer information systems jobs to advancement.
Computer information systems jobs are in demand. Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate that employment in Computer and Information Technology occupations is slated to grow 12% from 2018-2028. This will create more than half a million new jobs in the technology sector. The BLS reports that the median annual wage for Computer Information Systems and related jobs is nearly $90,000 per year. Growth in this industry creates lucrative opportunities for those with the right training.
Why Pursue a Computer Information Systems Career
High salary potential and growing opportunities are among the top reasons why many professionals pursue careers in computer science information and computer information systems.
Information technology and computer information systems jobs are an essential part of today’s employment landscape. Mobile apps, cloud computing, massive data storage needs, increasingly complex software and a host of security threats all create opportunities for those with the right education.
While many leaders in the computer information systems (CIS) field have advanced degrees, others are able to start working with just an associate’s degree or the right certificate. You can launch a career with the proper specialized training, and start reaping the rewards almost immediately.
Computer Information Systems and Information Technology Careers
Demand in the computer information systems sector is growing. New career opportunities are created because of growing needs in cloud computing, big data storage and collection and information security. Learn more about the top careers related to Computer Information Systems.
Web Developers
In the simplest terms, web developers design, create, build and implement websites. Web developers are diverse: They can work in computer systems design, publishing, management consulting, advertising and more. Many web developers are self employed.
Educational requirements for web developers: Web developers need to have both graphic design and programming skills. This can come from a high school diploma with specialized courses or a bachelor’s degree.
Web developer salary: According to information from the BLS, the median annual salary for web developers is just over $69,000.
Web developer career outlook: Web developers have a favorable career outlook, with growth on the horizon. The number of web developer jobs is supposed to grow 13 percent between 2018 and 2028. This is much faster than other occupations.
Best locations for web developers: Though web developers work in every state in the country, the metro areas that employ the most people in this occupation are the New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ-PA metro area; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area; San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area; and the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area.
Software Developers
There’s an app for that, and a software developer built it. Software developers and software engineers made the apps and programs used to keep businesses running and more. They might work for software publishers, manufacturing settings or computer systems design companies.
Educational requirements for software developers: It obviously takes computer programming skills to become a software developer. Many developers also have a computer information systems degree, including both bachelor’s and associate’s degrees.
Software developer salary: According to the BLS, the median annual salary for software developers who work on applications is just over $103,000 in 2018. The median annual salary for software developers who work on systems software is a little higher, just at $110,000 per year in 2018.
Software developer career outlook: Opportunities for software developers are definitely on the rise. According to numbers from the BLS, the employment of software developers is slated to grow 21% in the next decade. This is a lot faster than most other occupations.
Best locations for software developers: You’ll find software developers thriving in every state in the country. However, the top metro areas with the highest concentrations of software developers are the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area; San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area; and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area.
Information Security Analysts
Cyber attacks are a real threat to many organizations. Attacks could lead to leaked data, information being held hostage and even skewed election results. This is why information security analysts are essential. These skilled professionals help organizations prevent and thwart attacks to protect computer systems, networks, data security and more. You’ll find information security analysts working in a variety of sectors and industries. Computer companies, business organizations, finance companies and consulting firms all rely on information security specialists to keep operations safe.
Educational requirements for information security analysts: There are a few paths to landing a job as an information security analyst. Most employers prefer to hire candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree. This isn’t always an entry level job, as many employers also prefer candidates with experience in information security or a related field.
Information security analyst salary: Information security analysts have in-demand skills and are critical to the success and security of many organizations. As a result, they demand competitive salaries. The median annual wage for information security analysts was more than $98,000 in 2018, per figures from the BLS.
Information security analyst job outlook: The employment of information security analysts is slated to grow much, much faster than average by 2028 according to the BLS. This projected growth is due to increasing threats from cyber attacks by malicious hackers. Information security analysts offer innovative answers to these challenges. They can stop the theft of critical information and compromised computer networks.
Best locations for information security analysts: Data and security analysts work all over the country. Metropolitan areas with a growing opportunities for information security analysts include: the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area; the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area; the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area; the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro; and the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH metro area.
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Network and systems administrators make it all work together. They are responsible for the daily operation of computer networks. They manage vast communications channels and facilitate resource sharing and more. They work in many industries, as their skills apply in a number of different settings.
Educational requirements for network and computer systems administrators: There are many paths to a job as a network and systems admin. Some jobs just require a post-secondary certificate. Some require an associate’s degree. Other jobs require a bachelor’s degree.
Network and computer systems administrator salary: Numbers from the BLS indicate that the median annual wage for network administrators was just over $80,000 in 2018.
Network and computer systems administrator career outlook: The job outlook for computer information systems jobs reflects growth. Network and computer systems administrators are expected to see about a 5% increase in employment over the next 10 years. This is about on par with other occupations.
Best locations for network and computer systems administrators: Network and computer systems administrators work in every state across the country. Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of network and computer systems administrators include the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area; the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC, VA, MD, WV metro area; the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area; the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area; and the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area.
Database Administrators
Big data is a big part of business and productivity in today’s world. Database administrators store and organize data using specialized software, some of which they might build themselves. They work for all kinds of businesses, organizations and institutions. You’ll find database administrators in government offices, schools and educational institutions, and insurance companies.
Educational requirements for database administrators: Most database administrators have a bachelor’s degree. In most cases. They might have been computer information systems majors or have a degree in another computer science related field.
Database administrator salary: The median annual salary for a database administrator is just over $90,000 or $43.31 per hour, according to 2018 numbers from the BLS.
Database administrator job outlook: Analysts from the BLS expect to see faster-than-average growth for database administrators long-term over the next decade. Growth will likely be driven by growing data needs in the business sector. According to numbers from the BLS, employment of database administrators should grow 9% by 2028.
Best locations for database administrators: You’ll find database administrators working in every state across the country. However, you’ll also find higher concentrations of those working in this profession in a few metro areas. Top metro areas for database administrators include: the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area; the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area; the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area; the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area; and the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area.
Computer Systems Analysts
Business need computer systems more efficiently. Computer systems analysts know these systems inside and out. They can help businesses, organizations and institutions find solutions to make their computer systems work more effectively. They work for all kinds of businesses, generally in a full-time office setting. They often work more than 40 hours a week, according to the BLS.
Educational requirements for database administrators: Like with many computer information system jobs, a bachelor’s degree is the preferred education for many employers of computer systems analysts. Some firms might also hire analysts with business or even liberal arts degrees if they have relevant experience.
Computer systems analyst salary: According to numbers from the BLS, the median annual wage for computer systems analysts was nearly $89,000. This works out to approximately $43 per hour.
Computer system analyst job outlook: According to the BLS, the employment of computer systems analysts is slated to increase over the next decade. A rise in employment is linked to growing interest in cloud computing and growing IT needs. The healthcare industry, specifically, is expected to add jobs for computer system analysts. Employment of computer systems analysts should increase by 9% by 2028.
Best locations for computer systems analysts: There are a high concentration of computer systems analysts in a few metro areas scattered across the country. According to the BLS, the highest concentration of computer systems analysts can be found in: the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area; the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area; the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area; the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area; and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Whether they serve as IT project managers or in another capacity, computer and information systems managers are in-demand professionals. As leaders and managers, they plan, lead and direct all of the computer-related activities within a business or organization. The often work full-time hours in a variety of business settings, with growth expected in healthcare, logistics and business applications.
Education requirements for computer and information systems managers: There are many paths to becoming a computer and information systems manager. In most cases, though, these professionals hold at least a bachelor’s degree. In addition to the degree, many working systems managers have related professional experience in information technology. Some computer and information systems managers have a master’s degree.
Computer and information systems manager salary: Computer and information systems managers are more than just tech nerds — they’re organizational leaders, too. They have in-demand skills and prior experience. As a result of their skills and qualifications, these professionals can demand top dollar. According to numbers from the BLS, the media annual salary for computer and information systems managers was just over $142,000 in 2018.
Computer and information systems managers job outlook: Employment of computer and information systems managers is on the rise. According to figures from the BLS, the projected employment in this field will rise 11 percent between 2018 and 2028. This is much faster than average. They BLS cites demand to grow and employment to rise as business expand their digital footprints and adopt new technologies.
Best locations for computer and information systems managers: You’ll find computer and information systems managers working across the country. Like other computer information systems jobs, though, you’ll find the highest concentrations of these professionals in major metro areas and close to the coasts. Areas with the top employment of computer and information systems managers include: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA; and Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH.
Computer or Technical Support Specialists
From desktop support to software experts, computer support specialists help users make the most of their machines. They provide support to individual users, businesses, organizations and more. Most computer support specialists work full-time hours, sometimes during odd hours of the day because they need to be available 24/7.
Educational requirements for computer support specialists: There are many paths to becoming a computer support specialist. You might find that a bachelor’s degree is necessary for some positions, while a post-secondary certification or associate’s degree is needed for others.
Computer support specialist salary: According to figures from the BLS, computer network support specialists made a median annual wage of nearly $63,000 in 2018. Their peers who work as computer user support specialists brought home an annual wage of almost $51,000 in 2018.
Computer support specialist job outlook: The employment of computer support specialists is on the rise, according to the BLS. The employment of computer support specialists is slated to increase by 10% by 2028. This is faster than other occupations. The growth is linked to an increased need to support services as businesses and institutions upgrade software and equipment.
Best locations for computer support specialists: There are two kinds of computer support specialists: network support specialists and user support specialists. The metro areas with the highest concentration of computer network support specialists are New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA. The metro areas with the highest concentration of computer user support specialists include: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.associatweb
Computer Programmers
Coding app, software and websites all falls under the bailiwick of today’s computer programmers. These computer information systems professionals build and test software. You’ll likely find computer programmers in offices, usually at computer systems designs and similar companies. Some computer programmers also work remotely. They usually work a standard workweek.
Educational requirements for computer programmers: According to information from the BLS, it usually takes a bachelor’s degree to land an entry-level job as a computer programmer. Some companies will hire programmers with an associate’s degree. Regardless of your credentials, it’s important to know a few programming languages to be successful in this field.
Computer programmer salary: Figures from the BLS indicate that computer programmers brought home a median annual salary of just over $84,000 in 2018.
Computer programmer job outlook: The employment of computer programmers is actually projected to decline 7% by 2018, according to forecasts from the BLS. This is likely due to outsourcing, as computer programmers can work remotely from anywhere in the world — including other countries where wages are lower.
Best locations for computer programmers: Like other computer information system jobs, you’ll find the highest concentrations of computer programmers working in major metro areas. Top areas for computer programmers are: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA; and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI.
Computer Network Architects
Today’s business world depends on data and computer network architects make data work. Network architects are the professionals behind the scene who build and design the systems that make data sharing possible. They construct networks including LANs, WANs and Intranets. Computer network architects work in a variety of industries. They sometimes put in long hours, beyond a standard workweek.
Educational requirements for computer network architects: Like many computer information systems jobs, a career as a network architect might start with a degree in computer science. Most network architects start out with a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, many professionals in this field have experience in related IT occupations before landing a network architect job.
Computer network architect salary: Computer network architects have in-demand skills and can put in long hours, and this is reflected in their median annual salary. According to numbers from the BLS, network architects brought home approximately $109,000 in 2018.
Computer network architect job outlook: The IT needs of many organizations and businesses are growing, and this creates opportunities for network architects. The BLS forecasts that employment of computer network architects is slated to grow about as fast as other occupations, around 5% by 2028.
Best locations for computer network architects: Like many other computer information systems jobs, the best locations for computer network architects tends to be on the coast and in major metropolitan areas. Top metro areas for computer network architects are: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX; Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH; and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
Computer and Information Research Scientists
If you like being on the forefront of emerging technology, you might like being a computer and information research scientist. These are innovative professionals to find new uses for existing technology. Perhaps more importantly, they also design and invent new technologies and create forward-looking approaches to computing. As technology develops, they might study how humans interact with machines and computers.
Education requirements for computer and information research scientists: It takes advanced technology skills to become a computer and information research scientist. This means you’ll likely need at least a master’s degree in computer information systems or a closely related field. You might find a few entry-level jobs in which a bachelor’s degree will suffice.
Computer and information research scientist salary: Computer and information research scientists are very skilled and imaginative professionals. They are both creative and technical, and they often have advanced degrees. This unique skill set is recognized in the median annual wage of a computer and information research scientist. According to numbers from the BLS, these professionals made more than $118,000 in 2018.
Computer and information research scientist job outlook: If you’re looking for a career with a great job outlook, consider earning the credentials needed to become a computer and information research scientist. The employment in this field is slated to rise 16% between 2018 and 2028. This is much faster than other occupations, according to the BLS. In fact, many companies report trouble finding these kind of skilled professionals, which means that those with advanced know-how might have better luck landing a job.
Best locations for computer and information research scientists: Computer and information research scientists often work in major metro areas. The government employs many of these professionals, so there is a high concentration of computer and information research scientists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. Other locations with high employment levels include: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Computer Hardware Engineers
Computer hardware is essential. It is the physical part of a computer system. Computer hardware engineers are the professionals behind this equipment. They research, design, develop, invent and test computer hardware, components and peripherals. They implement new machines and configurations and make everything work together. Computer hardware engineers work in a variety of settings, but you’ll find a high concentration of them working in research labs and computer manufacturing.
Education requirements for computer hardware engineers: According to data from the BLS, most employers of computer hardware engineers prefer to hire candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program.
Computer hardware engineer salary: Computer hardware engineers have a variety of well-honed, in-demand skills. This means they’re able to negotiate substantial salaries. Numbers from the BLS indicate the median annual income for a computer hardware engineer was nearly $115,000 in 2018.
Computer hardware engineer job outlook: Computer hardware engineers have a favorable job outlook, with employment expected to rise about 6% between 2018 and 2028. This isn’t as high as other computer information systems jobs, more innovation takes place within software than hardware in today’s computing world.
Best locations for computer hardware engineers: You’ll find computer hardware engineers working in almost every state around the country. The highest concentration of computer hardware engineers work in major metropolitan areas, mostly on the west coast. Top areas for computer hardware engineers include: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and San Diego-Carlsbad, CA.
How to Land a Computer Information Systems Career
Many computer information systems jobs have a bright outlook, so you’ll find plenty of opportunities in this field — if you have the right training. One way to get hands-on skills is to supplement your degree or certificate with some internship experience.
An IT or CIS internship can give your career the bandwidth it needs for sucess. To get a computer information systems internship, you’ll likely need a few skills. Skills like a strong understanding of mathematics, troubleshooting and computers will likely help you land a CIS internship. It also can be helpful to know basic programming languages, like SQL, Java, C++ and Python, depending on your area of interest.
You’ll have opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the field during your internship. As an intern, you might resolve and diagnose computer problems. You might keep efforts moving as a project manager, help secure networks, or even use coding skills to develop apps or design plugins for websites.
A CIS internship offers valuable experience. Regardless of whether you plan to seek work as a software developer, computer systems analyst or even a technical support specialist, the real-word experience you can add to your resume with an internship can help you land your next position.
Speaking of resumes, having the right skills displayed on this document can also help you land a computer information systems job. When seeking work in the computer information systems field, you need to have a resume that displays that you a perfect candidate for the job at hand. If you have the skills requested in the job listing, make sure they are obvious on your resume.
Some of the top skills to include on your resume for a CIS job include:
- Ability to work on a team
- Problem solving skills
- Organizational skills
- Change and project management
- Ability to relate to users and user experience
- C++
- Java
- Visual Basic
- SQL
What’s Next for Computer Information Systems Careers?
Careers in computer information systems are growing. Emerging technologies create more opportunities for employment in this profession. With some CIS-related jobs expected to grow more than 30 percent over the next decade, it’s no wonder why getting the right training can boost your career and increase opportunities.
Explore more about training and how computer information systems jobs can deliver a rewarding career and enviable salary.