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Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 581,960 | 1.0 % | $44.59 | $92,740 | 0.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $25.84 | $32.82 | $42.44 | $54.11 | $67.24 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $53,750 | $68,260 | $88,270 | $112,540 | $139,850 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 179,330 | 8.90 | $46.84 | $97,420 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 56,220 | 2.42 | $44.48 | $92,520 |
| Insurance Carriers | 28,950 | 2.48 | $42.31 | $88,010 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 23,420 | 1.71 | $45.78 | $95,230 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 21,490 | 0.98 | $36.25 | $75,400 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 179,330 | 8.90 | $46.84 | $97,420 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | 16,350 | 5.32 | $43.93 | $91,380 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | 690 | 3.81 | $46.25 | $96,200 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 5,910 | 3.67 | $48.56 | $101,000 |
| Software Publishers | 10,190 | 2.77 | $46.32 | $96,350 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Personal Care Stores | 40 | (7) | $53.51 | $111,310 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 320 | 1.78 | $53.14 | $110,520 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 2,210 | 0.61 | $52.69 | $109,590 |
| Other Information Services | 6,020 | 2.18 | $51.21 | $106,520 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 50 | 0.03 | $51.03 | $106,150 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 72,980 | 4.37 | 1.07 | $49.45 | $102,860 |
| Texas | 56,220 | 4.73 | 1.16 | $46.24 | $96,190 |
| New York | 42,500 | 4.62 | 1.13 | $49.78 | $103,550 |
| Ohio | 28,970 | 5.39 | 1.32 | $43.30 | $90,070 |
| Virginia | 27,760 | 7.32 | 1.79 | $48.12 | $100,090 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 27,760 | 7.32 | 1.79 | $48.12 | $100,090 |
| Delaware | 2,950 | 6.66 | 1.63 | $46.36 | $96,440 |
| Maryland | 17,220 | 6.46 | 1.58 | $46.97 | $97,700 |
| District of Columbia | 4,260 | 6.01 | 1.47 | $50.47 | $104,970 |
| Minnesota | 16,630 | 5.86 | 1.44 | $43.86 | $91,230 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 13,170 | 3.29 | 0.81 | $50.84 | $105,750 |
| District of Columbia | 4,260 | 6.01 | 1.47 | $50.47 | $104,970 |
| New York | 42,500 | 4.62 | 1.13 | $49.78 | $103,550 |
| California | 72,980 | 4.37 | 1.07 | $49.45 | $102,860 |
| Virginia | 27,760 | 7.32 | 1.79 | $48.12 | $100,090 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 32,970 | 4.93 | 1.21 | $55.18 | $114,760 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 24,000 | 9.53 | 2.33 | $50.09 | $104,180 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 19,950 | 8.01 | 1.96 | $47.06 | $97,880 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 17,990 | 4.91 | 1.20 | $43.53 | $90,550 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 14,990 | 5.12 | 1.25 | $48.63 | $101,150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 14,780 | 7.65 | 1.87 | $44.79 | $93,150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 14,450 | 3.26 | 0.80 | $45.20 | $94,020 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 13,930 | 5.32 | 1.30 | $43.46 | $90,400 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 13,600 | 12.49 | 3.06 | $56.74 | $118,010 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 12,840 | 7.80 | 1.91 | $48.02 | $99,870 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 1,160 | 25.42 | 6.23 | $48.37 | $100,610 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 1,640 | 15.00 | 3.67 | $36.53 | $75,980 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 13,600 | 12.49 | 3.06 | $56.74 | $118,010 |
| Bloomington, IL | 1,050 | 11.77 | 2.88 | $42.60 | $88,600 |
| Raleigh, NC | 7,090 | 11.69 | 2.86 | $44.69 | $92,950 |
| Springfield, IL | 1,140 | 10.64 | 2.61 | $44.80 | $93,180 |
| Madison, WI | 3,990 | 10.30 | 2.52 | $42.31 | $88,000 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | 11,450 | 10.26 | 2.51 | $58.84 | $122,380 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 10,000 | 10.04 | 2.46 | $44.69 | $92,960 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 24,000 | 9.53 | 2.33 | $50.09 | $104,180 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | 11,450 | 10.26 | 2.51 | $58.84 | $122,380 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 13,600 | 12.49 | 3.06 | $56.74 | $118,010 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 32,970 | 4.93 | 1.21 | $55.18 | $114,760 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 800 | 2.59 | 0.63 | $53.82 | $111,940 |
| Danbury, CT | 180 | 2.25 | 0.55 | $52.55 | $109,300 |
| Salinas, CA | 260 | 1.49 | 0.37 | $52.40 | $109,000 |
| Hinesville, GA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $52.01 | $108,190 |
| San Rafael, CA Metropolitan Division | 250 | 2.16 | 0.53 | $51.83 | $107,800 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 440 | 2.39 | 0.59 | $51.75 | $107,630 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 1,430 | 3.44 | 0.84 | $50.47 | $104,980 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 720 | 4.06 | 0.99 | $29.08 | $60,480 |
| Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 530 | 2.14 | 0.52 | $43.44 | $90,350 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 2.22 | 0.54 | $36.77 | $76,480 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 2.20 | 0.54 | $39.13 | $81,380 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 390 | 1.56 | 0.38 | $44.80 | $93,180 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 5.05 | 1.24 | $48.37 | $100,610 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 720 | 4.06 | 0.99 | $29.08 | $60,480 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 3.64 | 0.89 | $45.05 | $93,700 |
| Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 3.05 | 0.75 | $30.29 | $63,000 |
| Southwest Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 2.75 | 0.67 | $26.05 | $54,190 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 5.05 | 1.24 | $48.37 | $100,610 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 3.64 | 0.89 | $45.05 | $93,700 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 390 | 1.56 | 0.38 | $44.80 | $93,180 |
| Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 530 | 2.14 | 0.52 | $43.44 | $90,350 |
| Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.70 | 0.17 | $42.87 | $89,180 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018