Careers / Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$116,580
United States, 2025
Employment
435,370
United States, 2025
Typical education
Post-Secondary Certificate
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.
- O*NET code
- 15-1299.08
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.
- Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements.
- Investigate system component suitability for specified purposes, and make recommendations regarding component use.
- Provide customers or installation teams guidelines for implementing secure systems.
- Direct the analysis, development, and operation of complete computer systems.
- Direct the installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware.
- Identify system data, hardware, or software components required to meet user needs.
- Perform ongoing hardware and software maintenance operations, including installing or upgrading hardware or software.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$55,940
25th percentile
$79,370
75th percentile
$157,500
90th percentile
$188,470
Most important skills
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Systems Analysis3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Writing3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.9
- Operations Analysis3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Active Learning3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Programming3.5
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 24 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
24
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Analysis | 3.8 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Programming | 3.5 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Science | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Computer Systems Engineers/ArchitectsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $184,430 | 16,680 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $161,700 | 16,930 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $160,520 | 7,850 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $156,640 | — | 2025 |
| DC | $156,590 | 17,200 | 2025 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $148,700 | 350 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | $147,590 | 1,120 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $144,680 | 1,000 | 2025 |
| MD | $144,680 | 19,060 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $144,580 | 220 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $140,750 | 800 | 2025 |
| CO | $139,580 | 11,800 | 2025 |
| VA | $139,030 | 17,000 | 2025 |
| DE | $137,470 | 860 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $136,120 | 10,710 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $135,600 | 9,010 | 2025 |
| CA | $134,440 | 80,150 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $131,730 | 500 | 2025 |
| Charleston, SC | $131,600 | 1,590 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | $129,940 | 2,410 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Computer Systems Engineers/Architects to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.