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Computer Systems Analyst

$105,850
median / year
$67,340 – $167,710
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Study an organization's systems and design improvements that make computing more efficient and reliable.

You may also see this posted as: Business Systems Analyst, Programmer Analyst, Systems Analyst, Applications Analyst, Computer Analyst, Computer Systems Consultant.

Where you work

Offices and remote, across most industries

The hours

Regular weekday hours, some remote

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions to restore normal functioning.
  • Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer-related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.
  • Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
  • Use the computer in the analysis and solution of business problems, such as development of integrated production and inventory control and cost analysis systems.
  • Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility so that information can be shared.

Good fit if you like…

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

Realistic

working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world

O*NET job zone 4 of 5

High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

Attention to DetailIntellectual CuriosityInnovationDependability

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Atlassian JIRAMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Power BIMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePoint

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$105,850
per year
Hourly median
$50.89
per hour
What most earn
$67,340–$167,710
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~34,200
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+8.7%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
519,530
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 2.2% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

Related work experience: None.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Analytical thinkingCommunicationProblem solvingTechnical knowledge

The honest take

A practical tech role that bridges business and IT, often reachable without a hardcore programming background.

Standard Occupational Classification 15-1211. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.