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
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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 occupations, all other (15-1299) offer a broad technology-focused career path with solid national demand and compensation. With national employment of 472,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 8.2%, this field combines sizable current workforce presence with continued expansion. The national median annual salary of $108,970 reflects strong earning potential for professionals who develop and apply advanced computing knowledge. Careers in this category benefit from a blend of technical and professional strengths, including computers and information technology, critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and strong writing and reading skills. Creativity and innovation, mathematics, project management, and being detail oriented further support success in these roles, while speaking and listening help with collaboration. Job seekers can also consider related paths such as computer network architects, software developers, computer systems analysts, network and computer systems administrators, and software quality assurance analysts and testers when exploring options in the broader computing landscape.
Computer occupations, all other have a national median annual salary of $108,970, indicating strong overall earning potential. Salaries vary meaningfully by location. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, median salaries range from $109,590 in Massachusetts to $139,580 in Colorado. California and Washington also show high median salaries at $134,440 and $128,940, while New York offers $116,990. At the metro level, salary levels can be even higher. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro has a median salary of $184,430, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $161,700. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH have median salaries of $126,910 and $121,230, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports $109,700. These differences highlight how location choices can significantly influence earnings within this occupation.
Computer occupations, all other show a combination of sizable current employment and projected growth. National employment stands at 472,000, with a projected employment growth rate of 8.2%. This growth suggests expanding opportunities over time for people entering or advancing in the field. The occupation is expected to generate 31,000 annual openings, which can include new positions created by growth as well as openings from workers changing roles or leaving the workforce. Together, these figures indicate a labor market with ongoing hiring activity across different regions and employers. The consistent growth rate of 8.2% also appears in the top states and metro areas by CareerGPS opportunity score, suggesting that expansion is not limited to a single geography. For students, career changers, and experienced professionals, these trends point to a career path with continuing demand and a steady flow of job opportunities.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for computer occupations, all other, with certain states and metros standing out by CareerGPS opportunity score. Among states, California ranks highest with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $134,440, and employment of 80,150. Massachusetts and New York also show strong scores of 65.87 and 65.78, with median salaries of $109,590 and $116,990 and employment of 6,170 and 11,460. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, each offering high median salaries of $139,580 and $128,940 and employment of 11,800 and 14,360. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $184,430. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ follows closely with a score of 77.27 and employment of 16,230. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA also provide notable combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity score, giving professionals multiple high-opportunity regions to consider.
The typical education requirement for computer occupations, all other is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the broad mix of technical and professional skills associated with the field. Core capabilities include computers and information technology, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making. Strong writing and reading skills are also important, supporting documentation, communication, and understanding complex information. Creativity and innovation, together with mathematics, help professionals approach technical challenges and develop solutions. Project management and being detail oriented contribute to planning, organizing, and executing work effectively. Mechanical skills and speaking and listening round out the profile, supporting work that can involve both technical systems and collaboration with others. Students and career changers considering this path can use these skill areas as a guide when evaluating degree programs or professional development options that align with the occupation’s typical requirements.
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