Average salary for management information systems degree

While a degree in one of the many information technology fields may be challenging, a management information systems salary is well worth the work. Individuals in management and information systems programs learn about the relations between technology, people and organizations. Unlike many computer science degrees, management information systems programs are people-oriented and focus on the relationship between people and technology. Training emphasizes service aspects of technology, and these management specialists are vital to the smooth operation of many businesses.

Keiser University and Florida State University both offer top management information systems programs. At the end of Keiser University’s unique program, students work with community organizers to solve real problems, giving them actual project experience. Florida State University’s Masters in Management Information Systems is perfect for working students or career changers because it is offered completely online. The degree is designed to be completed in 24 months, and is ideal for professionals who wish to give their resume a competitive edge.

Details About the Management Information Systems Salary

There are four main factors that determine an information systems manager’s salary: education, experience, location and performance. Many employers prefer to hire applicants who hold masters degrees, and generally pay these applicants higher salaries. In addition, experience and performance both determine bonuses and salary increases over time. Location is also important when determining the expected salary due to vast differences in the cost of living across the country. Professionals working in California and New York are paid higher salaries, but this is offset by the extremely high cost of living in those areas. Therefore, people working in places like the South and the Midwest are often paid less than those working in the Northeast or the West Coast.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, database administrators can expect to see the highest overall job growth in the next ten years. This is due to businesses’ need to organize data collection efforts, and businesses’ desire to implement stronger security measures for their databases.

Median Annual Wage of Computer and Information Systems Managers

The median management information systems salary was $146,360 as of May 2019. The median salary is the midpoint of all salaries if they’re put in a line. Half of all computer and information systems managers earned less than this amount, and half of them earned more than that amount. The lowest-paid 10% of computer and information systems managers earned a median salary of $87,480 per year. The lowest-paid 25% earned a median salary of $113,110 per year. The highest-paid 75% earned $185,610 per year. The mean annual wage for computer and information systems managers was $156,390.

Top-paying States for Computer and Information Systems Managers

Some states have a higher management information systems salary than others. When considering the wage, it’s important to compare it against the cost of living in the same place. A higher annual salary needs to keep up with the higher cost of living in expensive places. The top-paying states for computer and information systems managers are New York, California, New Jersey, Virginia and Colorado. The median annual management information systems salary in New York is more than $190,000, and Colorado’s is $172,000.

Top-paying Cities and Metropolitan Areas for Computer and Information Systems Managers

In general, the computer and management information systems salary is higher in a metropolitan area of a state than it is in a suburban or rural area of the state. Some of this is related to the cost of living in metropolitan areas. In most cases, cities have a higher cost of living than suburban and rural areas. The city or metropolitan area with the highest computer and management information systems salary is San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, CA. This area’s management information systems salary is $215,090. The other nine top-paying places for computer and information systems managers include the San Francisco, Oakland and Hayward, CA; New York, NY and Newark and Jersey City, NJ; Santa Maria and Santa Barbara, CA; Boulder, CO; Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk, CT; Binghamton, NY; Denver, Aurora and Lakewood, CO; Washington, DC., Alexandria, VA and Arlington, VA; and Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue, WA. All of these cities and metropolitan statistical areas have a median annual salary of greater than $171,000 for computer and information systems managers.

Non-metropolitan Areas With the highest in Computer and Information Systems Management Salary

The non-metropolitan areas with the highest median computer and management information systems salaries include Central East New York, Northeast Virginia, Southwest New York, North New Hampshire and North New Mexico. All of these non-metro areas have median annual salaries in excess of $137,540.

Top-paying Industries for Computer and Information Systems Managers

Some industries have a higher computer and management information systems salary than others. The highest-paid industry for computer and information systems managers is information technology, with a median annual salary of $161,930. The second-highest paying industry for these professionals is computer systems design and related services. The computer and information systems managers who work in this economic sector earn a median annual salary of $152,840. The other top-paying industries for computer and information systems managers are finance and insurance, management of companies and enterprises and manufacturing.

Expected Wage Growth for Computer and Information Systems Managers

The high demand for computer and information systems managers will lead to a rapid increase in wages. Median annual wages for these professionals should increase by about 17% between May 2019 and May 2029. This is much faster than the expected rate of wage growth for all occupations, which will be 7%. The rapid growth in management information systems salary will make this a lucrative career.

Where Computer and Information Systems Managers Work

Most computer and information systems managers work in an office setting. On occasion, they may need to travel to satellite offices or to attend industry conferences. Most computer and information systems managers work 40 hours per week during business hours. When there is an urgent situation or security emergency, they may need to work overtime. If a new piece of technology is being implemented at the organization, the computer and information systems manager may need to work longer hours.

Job Outlook for Computer and Information Systems Managers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in computer and information systems management will grow 10% from 2019 to 2029. This is much faster than the average for all occupations, which is 4%. The reason for this is that large corporations are increasing their digital operations, so they need people to manage the data, hardware and software for use in those operations. An increase in cloud computing could outsource some of the in-house information technology in small organizations, such as schools, to those in large information technology companies.

Industries With the Most Computer and Information Systems Management Jobs

Most jobs in computer and information management are concentrated in less than 10 industries. These industries include computer systems design and related services, software publishers, data processing and hosting services, monetary authorities and central banks and insurance carriers. Combined, these industries account for about 18% of all jobs in computer and information systems management. The other top five industries for employment in this career include government, healthcare, professional and scientific services, technical services and publishing.

States With the Most Jobs in Computer and Information Systems Management

The states with the highest total number of jobs in computer and information systems management are California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida. California has more than 75,000 jobs in this career, and Florida has more than 28,000. Another way to consider which state has the most jobs in computer and information systems management is to review the location quotient. This is the state’s population divided by the number of available jobs in this career. The states or districts with the highest location quotient of computer and information systems manager jobs are Connecticut, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, California and Maryland.

Metropolitan Areas With the Most Jobs in Computer and Information Systems Management

Most jobs in computer and information systems management are in metropolitan areas. That’s where corporations are typically located. The cities or metropolitan areas with the highest total number of jobs in computer and information systems management include New York, NY and Newark and Jersey City, NJ; San Francisco, Oakland and Hayward, CA; Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim, CA, Washington, D.C. and Arlington and Alexandria, VA; Boston and Cambridge, MA and Nashua, NH; Chicago, Naperville and Elgin, IL; San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, CA; Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Roswell, GA; Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, TX; and Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue, WA.

Location Quotient of Computer and Information Systems Management Jobs

The cities or metropolitan areas with the highest location quotient or concentration of computer and information systems management jobs are San Jose, CA; Bloomington, IL; San Fransisco, CA; Hartford, CT; Boston, MA; Bridgeport, CT; Washington, D.C.; Durham, NC, Raleigh, NC; and Seattle, WA.

Non-metropolitan Areas With the Most Jobs in Computer and Information Systems Management

While non-metropolitan areas don’t have as many jobs in this career as cities do, there are opportunities available. The five non-metropolitan areas with the most jobs in computer and information systems management include Southwest Montana, South Central New Hampshire, Kansas, Southeast Iowa and the lower peninsula of Michigan.

Roles of Computer and Information Systems Managers

A computer and information systems manager may fill different roles within different organizations. One such role of a computer and information systems manager is a chief information officer. This relates to handling the daily activities of the information technology department in an organization. Another role that a computer and information systems manager could fill is that of a chief technology officer. This professional would evaluate new technology and determine if it is a good fit for the organization’s needs. An information technology director is another role for a computer and information systems manager. This job role involves determining requirements for information technology systems, hiring employees and coordinating information technology activities. Information technology security managers evaluate and manage the data and network security of their organization.

Important Qualities Computer and Information Systems Managers Should Have

In order to become a computer and information systems manager, it’s necessary to have some characteristics that are associated with success in this profession. There are six key personality traits that will help a person do well in this career. The first quality is the ability to analyze problems. Most computer and information systems managers spend their days analyzing technology issues. Business skills are also necessary for computer and information systems managers. They need to form strategic partnerships with others in their organization.

A successful computer and information systems manager should be good at communicating. They need to communicate with the organization’s executives and with their own subordinates. Good decision-making skills are also essential. The computer and information systems manager will need to make informed decisions on how to proceed when faced with a problem. They will need to think quickly on their feet.

A computer and information systems manager needs to be a leader within their organization. They should be able to handle difficult personnel situations. Finally, a computer and information systems manager needs to be well-organized. They will need to manage multiple projects at the same time.

Educational Requirements for Computer and Information Systems Managers

To become a computer and information systems manager, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer or information science is required. Many employers require their computer and information systems managers to have a master’s degree. A common master’s degree for people in this profession is the master’s of business administration. Some of the courses that a computer and information systems manager will need to take in their degree path include software development, computer programming and many levels of mathematics. Classes in logic, technical writing and business are also helpful.

Work-related Requirements to Become a Computer and Information Systems Manager

There are some specific work-related requirements for a person who wants to become a computer and information systems manager. They should have experience in different information technology roles, such as help desk support, information security or healthcare database administration. A computer and information systems manager will also need some experience in low- to mid-level management positions if they want to advance into a top-level management role.

Certifications for Computer and Information Systems Managers

A computer and information systems manager should consider earning one of the many certifications that are available in this profession. Earning a certification may lead to faster wage growth and opportunities for advancement within a company or within the profession in general. Some of the available certifications available for computer and information systems managers to earn include COMP TIA Project+, security professional credentials and certified associate in project management.

Management information systems graduates who wish to maximize their salary potential should consider getting certified in a particular software or technology. They should also be willing to work long hours in order to meet deadlines and fix problems for their employer. When considering a career in information technology students should keep in mind that working overtime is common and often necessary in the software industry. A job as an information systems manager may be grueling or tedious at times, but a management information systems salary is often more than adequate compensation for employees’ time and effort.

Related Resources: 

• Top 5 Cheapest Online Database Management Degrees
• What is the Difference Between Database Management and Computer Programming
• Top 10 Information Systems Security Degrees Online (Bachelor’s)
• What is Information Systems Security?
• What is the Difference Between a Computer Science Degree and a Computer Information Systems Degree?