# Computer Systems Engineers/Architects

> Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects
- SOC code: 15-1299.08
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $116,580 (10th percentile $55,940, 90th percentile $188,470)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.1%
- Openings a year: 27,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Computer occupations, all other".

## Interest profile (code CIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 52 |
| Investigative (I) | 74 |
| Artistic (A) | 15 |
| Social (S) | 18 |
| Enterprising (E) | 34 |
| Conventional (C) | 79 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 92/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 75/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 75/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 73/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Analysis, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, English Language, Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management, Design, Mathematics, Administrative, Production and Processing

## Also called

Application Systems Architect, Cloud Architect, Cloud Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, Cloud Platform Engineer, Cloud Software Engineer, Cloud Solution Architect, Computer Systems Architect, Data Platform Engineer, Enterprise Architect

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

- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1101) (CIP 1101, 1,547 colleges)
- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 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)
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Information Science/Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1104) (CIP 1104, 446 colleges)
- [Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2611) (CIP 2611, 200 colleges)
- [Medical Illustration and Informatics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5127) (CIP 5127, 178 colleges)
- [Data Processing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1103) (CIP 1103, 149 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3008) (CIP 3008, 113 colleges)
- [Computational Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3030) (CIP 3030, 109 colleges)
- [Human Computer Interaction](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3031) (CIP 3031, 60 colleges)
- Accounting and Computer Science (CIP 3016, 17 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

- [Software Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-developers): $135,980 median pay
- [Computer Systems Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-analysts): $105,850 median pay
- [Computer Network Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-architects): $134,050 median pay
- [Network and Computer Systems Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/network-and-computer-systems-administrators): $99,130 median pay
- [Blockchain Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/blockchain-engineers): $116,580 median pay
- [Database Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-administrators): $104,620 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.