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Business & Finance

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

Median salary (BLS)

$175,140

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$108k – $298k

Job outlook

+15% (much faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $112,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Computer and Information Systems Managers

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$40,500–$153,000

Time to qualify

4.5 yr

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Industry certification (optional for many roles)

    Certification

    Role-dependent — e.g. CPA, Series 7/65, PMP, SHRM. Not always required, but often expected for advancement.

    $500–$3,000 · 6 months source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Computer and Information Systems Managers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Computer and Information Systems Managers Intern

    Internship

    $53,775

    ~4 mos to advance

  2. Junior Computer and Information Systems Managers

    Entry / Junior

    $107,550

    ~2 yrs to advance

  3. Computer and Information Systems Managers

    Established

    $175,140

    ~3 yrs to advance

  4. Senior Computer and Information Systems Managers

    Senior

    $236,325

Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Business & Finance

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.