# Computer and Information Systems Managers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-and-information-systems-managers
- SOC code: 11-3021.00
- Career family: Management
- Median annual pay: $175,140 (10th percentile $107,550, 90th percentile $297,510)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +15.8%
- Openings a year: 53,500
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CEI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 28 |
| Investigative (I) | 58 |
| Artistic (A) | 8 |
| Social (S) | 23 |
| Enterprising (E) | 68 |
| Conventional (C) | 82 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 98/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 84/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 83/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 83/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 81/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 78/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 75/100)
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Writing, Management of Personnel Resources

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Personnel and Human Resources, Mathematics, Education and Training, Telecommunications, Design

## Also called

Application Development Director, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Computer and Information Systems Manager, Computer Operations Manager, Computer Programming Manager, Computer Security Manager, Computer Systems Information Director, Computing Services Director, Consulting Technical Director, Cyber Workforce Manager

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1101) (CIP 1101, 1,547 colleges)
- [Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1110) (CIP 1110, 1,184 colleges)
- [Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1107) (CIP 1107, 1,070 colleges)
- [Computer Software and Media Applications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1108) (CIP 1108, 701 colleges)
- [Management Information Systems and Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5212) (CIP 5212, 550 colleges)
- [Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1109) (CIP 1109, 546 colleges)
- [Information Science/Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1104) (CIP 1104, 446 colleges)
- [Data Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3070) (CIP 3070, 323 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3008) (CIP 3008, 113 colleges)
- [Human Computer Interaction](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3031) (CIP 3031, 60 colleges)
- Accounting and Computer Science (CIP 3016, 17 colleges)
- Telecommunications Management (CIP 5221, 15 colleges)
- Economics and Computer Science (CIP 3039, 11 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Computer Science | $173,492 | $268,121 | $19,000 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $143,850 | $241,380 | $11,000 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Computer Science | $171,815 | $225,141 | $10,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Computer Science | $151,551 | $223,309 | $12,500 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Computer Science | $155,162 | $217,973 | not reported |
| [Pomona College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pomona-college-2139) | Computer Science | $100,072 | $217,051 | not reported |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Computer Science | $157,763 | $214,907 | $12,000 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Computer Science | $141,816 | $214,479 | $15,000 |

## Related careers

- [Computer Systems Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-analysts): $105,850 median pay
- [Project Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/project-management-specialists): $102,320 median pay
- [Software Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-developers): $135,980 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Management Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/management-analysts): $101,860 median pay
- [Information Technology Project Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-technology-project-managers): $116,580 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.