Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 509,100 people employed as computer and information systems managers in the United States. The median annual salary is $159,010. Entry level employees earn approximately $95,220 per year and senior employees earn approximately $208,000 (or more) per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.
• Evaluate the organization's technology use and needs and recommend improvements, such as hardware and software upgrades.
• Review and approve all systems charts and programs prior to their implementation.
• Prepare and review operational reports or project progress reports.
• Evaluate data processing proposals to assess project feasibility and requirements.
• Control operational budget and expenditures.
• Purchase necessary equipment.
• Manage backup, security and user help systems.
• Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
• Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
• Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
• Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
• Provide users with technical support for computer problems.
• Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
• Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, or participate in staffing decisions.
• Stay abreast of advances in technology.
• Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to assess computing needs and system requirements.

Career List