Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Computer systems analysts work at the intersection of technology and problem solving. The role offers strong national presence, with 521,000 people employed across the country, indicating that it is a well-established profession. The national median salary of $103,790 reflects solid earning potential, with even higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. Projected employment growth of 8.7% and 34,000 annual openings suggest ongoing demand and a steady flow of opportunities for new and experienced professionals. Success in this career draws on a blend of computers and information technology, critical and analytical thinking, mathematics, and problem solving and decision making. Strong speaking and listening, writing and reading, and being detail oriented also contribute to effectiveness on the job. Creativity and innovation, project management, and even mechanical skills appear as valuable strengths. For people who enjoy analytical work, technology, and structured problem solving, this path offers a balanced mix of stability, growth, and advancement potential.
Computer systems analysts benefit from a strong national median salary of $103,790, providing a solid earnings foundation. Salaries can be substantially higher in certain regions. At the state level, median pay reaches $127,720 in California, $128,240 in Massachusetts, $109,610 in New York, $127,750 in Colorado, and $129,410 in Washington. Among metro areas, pay is even higher in several markets, led by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $157,140 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $134,460. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $128,340, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $127,040, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH comes in at $129,180. These figures show that experienced professionals who are able to work in top states and metros may have access to significantly above-median earnings compared with the national median for this occupation.
The career outlook for computer systems analysts is supported by both current employment size and forward-looking projections. National employment stands at 521,000, indicating a large, established workforce. Looking ahead, projected employment growth of 8.7% points to continued expansion of the field rather than stagnation or decline. In addition to growth, the occupation is expected to generate 34,000 annual openings. This combination of growth and openings suggests opportunities arising from both new positions and turnover in existing roles. The unified growth rate of 8.7% also appears in several top states and metro areas, indicating a consistent projection across different regions. For students and career changers, these numbers suggest that, while the field is competitive, there is an ongoing need for new talent. For current professionals, the data supports the potential for continued career progression and mobility over time.
Location can significantly shape opportunities for computer systems analysts. At the state level, California and Massachusetts stand out with high opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.87, respectively, and median salaries above $127,000. New York combines a median salary of $109,610 with an opportunity score of 65.78 and employment of 24,100, indicating a sizable job base. Colorado and Washington also offer six-figure median salaries around $127,750 and $129,410, with opportunity scores in the mid-50s. Metro areas show even more concentrated opportunity. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $157,140, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ closely follows with a 77.27 score and $128,340 salary. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH all pair high six-figure salaries with opportunity scores above 63. Together, these figures highlight multiple strong regional options, with some metros offering especially high pay and opportunity.
The typical education for computer systems analysts is a bachelor’s degree, which provides a formal foundation for this analytically focused, technology-centered role. Beyond the degree itself, the skill profile highlights what matters most for success. Core technical strength in computers and information technology and mathematics underpins the work. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, supports tackling complex challenges. Communication plays a key role through strong writing and reading as well as speaking and listening. Being detail oriented is also emphasized, aligning with the need for accuracy and thoroughness. Creativity and innovation and project management skills round out the profile, supporting work that may involve designing or improving systems and coordinating tasks over time. Mechanical skills also appear among the top competencies, indicating that comfort with technical systems more broadly can be valuable alongside formal education.
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