💻
Technology
Microsoft, Amazon, Google
Computer and Information Systems Managers
These managers decide how a company’s technology team spends time and money. They turn business needs into system plans, then balance speed, security, and cost when choosing software, hardware, and vendors. The job stands out because it sits between executives and technical staff, so one bad decision can affect outages, budgets, and day-to-day work across the whole organization.
Also known as IT ManagerInformation Technology ManagerInformation Systems ManagerIT Operations ManagerMIS Manager
Median Salary
$171,200
Mean $187,990
U.S. Workforce
~646K
55.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+15.2%
667.1K to 768.7K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ 5 years or more experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Computer and Information Systems Managers sits in the Technology category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~646K workers, with a median annual pay of $171,200 and roughly 55.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 667.1 K in 2024 to 768.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect 5 years or more of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around IT Support Analyst and can progress toward Director of IT / Chief Information Officer. High-value skills usually include IT Service Management (ITIL, ServiceNow), Cybersecurity, Backup & Disaster Recovery, and Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Assign projects to analysts, programmers, and other IT staff, then check that the work is moving in the right direction.
- Meet with employees, leaders, vendors, and technical staff to figure out what systems the business needs and what problems need solving.
- Build and monitor the IT budget, including spending on software, hardware, licenses, and outside support.
- Set priorities, deadlines, and working standards for the department so daily operations stay organized.
Keep exploring: more Technology careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Assign projects to analysts, programmers, and other IT staff, then check that the work is moving in the right direction.
02 Meet with employees, leaders, vendors, and technical staff to figure out what systems the business needs and what problems need solving.
03 Build and monitor the IT budget, including spending on software, hardware, licenses, and outside support.
04 Set priorities, deadlines, and working standards for the department so daily operations stay organized.
05 Oversee security, backups, and disaster recovery planning so the business can recover after an outage or cyberattack.
06 Review new technology proposals and recommend hardware or software upgrades that improve performance or reduce risk.
Industries That Hire
🏥
Healthcare
Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, UnitedHealth Group
🏦
Finance
JPMorgan Chase, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs
🏭
Manufacturing
Siemens, GE Aerospace, Tesla
🏛️
Government
NASA, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, State of California
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
Pay is strong: the median wage is $171,200 and the mean is $187,990, which is high for a management role.
+
Demand is still growing, with employment projected to rise 15.2% and add about 101.6K jobs, plus 55.6K annual openings.
+
You get real decision-making power over budgets, upgrades, and security priorities instead of just handling tickets.
+
The work builds broad leadership experience because you coordinate staff, vendors, and executives across the business.
+
No on-the-job training is required, so experienced IT workers can move into management without a long formal apprenticeship.
Challenges
-
It is not a fast path into management; most workers need a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of experience before qualifying.
-
The job carries constant accountability for outages, budget overruns, and security failures, so stress can be high.
-
You often have to make tradeoffs between what users want, what executives can afford, and what security requires.
-
Cloud services, automation, and outsourcing can shrink some middle-management roles or turn them into vendor oversight jobs.
-
Career growth can flatten unless you move into director, VP, or CIO roles, which are usually available only in larger organizations.
Career Progression
IT Support Analyst
0-3 years
$60K-$85K
Handles user problems, account access, and routine troubleshooting while learning how systems and support teams fit together.
Systems Administrator
4-7 years
$86K-$125K
Manages servers, updates, and day-to-day system reliability, often leading small projects or coordinating with vendors.
Computer and Information Systems Manager THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$140K-$205K
Runs an IT function or department, sets priorities, manages budgets, and balances security, cost, and business needs.
Director of IT / Chief Information Officer
15+ years
$220K-$320K
Oversees multiple teams or the full technology strategy, working with executives on major investments and long-term planning.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
The most common entry point, held by 47.68% of workers in this role.
Some college courses plus extensive experience
A sizable alternative path, held by 25.96% of workers, usually paired with years of hands-on IT work and leadership responsibility.
Master's degree
Held by 14.36% of workers and more common in larger organizations or more strategic leadership roles.
Professional certification plus experience
Not reflected in the distribution, but certifications such as ITIL, PMP, or cloud credentials can help once you already have several years of experience.
Key Skills
Technical
IT Service Management (ITIL, ServiceNow) 84%
Cybersecurity, Backup & Disaster Recovery 82%
Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) 81%
Enterprise Systems (SAP, Oracle, Active Directory) 79%
Project Planning (Jira, Microsoft Project, Asana) 77%
Budgeting, Forecasting & KPI Reporting (Excel, Power BI) 75%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSpeaking Job Outlook and Trends
+15.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
55.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 667.1K to 768.7 K over the next decade, representing 15.2% growth. Around 55.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.