Computer and Information Systems Managers
11-3021.00
Bright Outlook Updated 2024

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

Sample of reported job titles: Application Development Director, Computing Services Director, Data Processing Manager, Information Systems Director (IS Director), Information Systems Manager (IS Manager), Information Systems Supervisor (IS Supervisor), Information Technology Director (IT Director), Information Technology Manager (IT Manager), MIS Director (Management Information Systems Director), Technical Services Manager

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
  • Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
  • Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
  • Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
  • Provide users with technical support for computer problems.
  • Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
  • Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, or participate in staffing decisions.
  • Stay abreast of advances in technology.
  • Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to assess computing needs and system requirements.
  • Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.
  • Evaluate the organization's technology use and needs and recommend improvements, such as hardware and software upgrades.
  • Review and approve all systems charts and programs prior to their implementation.
  • Prepare and review operational reports or project progress reports.
  • Evaluate data processing proposals to assess project feasibility and requirements.
  • Control operational budget and expenditures.
  • Purchase necessary equipment.
  • Manage backup, security and user help systems.
Find occupations related to multiple tasks

Technology Skills

  • Access software — Citrix cloud computing software; Mac HelpMate
  • Accounting software — Billing software; Tax software
  • Analytical or scientific software — IBM SPSS Statistics Hot technology ; SAS Hot technology ; StataCorp Stata; The MathWorks MATLAB Hot technology
  • Application server software — Microsoft Windows Server Hot technology ; Oracle WebLogic Server; Progress OpenEdge Application Server; Red Hat WildFly; 1 more
  • Backup or archival software — Veritas NetBackup
  • Business intelligence and data analysis software — IBM Cognos Impromptu; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition; Qlik Tech QlikView; Tableau Hot technology ; 1 more
  • Calendar and scheduling software — Microsoft Entourage
  • Cloud-based data access and sharing software — Microsoft SharePoint Hot technology ; Software as a service SaaS
  • Cloud-based management software — IBM WebSphere; Splunk Enterprise Hot technology
  • Cloud-based protection or security software — SolarWinds
  • Clustering software — VMware
  • Communications server software — IBM Domino
  • Compliance software — Pilgrim Quality Solutions SmartSolve
  • Configuration management software — Perforce Helix software; Puppet Hot technology
  • Content workflow software — Atlassian JIRA Hot technology
  • Customer relationship management CRM software — ACT! Premium; Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Oracle Eloqua; Performance Solutions Technology ManagePro; 3 more
  • Data base management system software — Apache Cassandra Hot technology ; MongoDB Hot technology ; NoSQL Hot technology ; Oracle PL/SQL Hot technology ; 7 more
  • Data base reporting software — SAP Crystal Reports
  • Data base user interface and query software — Amazon Web Services AWS software In-Demand Hot technology ; Blackboard software; Microsoft SQL Server Hot technology ; MySQL Hot technology ; 5 more
  • Data mining software — Google Analytics Hot technology
  • Desktop publishing software — Adobe Distiller
  • Development environment software — Apache Maven Hot technology ; Eclipse IDE Hot technology ; Microsoft .NET Framework Hot technology ; Microsoft Azure software In-Demand Hot technology ; 9 more
  • Electronic mail software — Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook Hot technology ; Pegasus software; QUALCOMM Eudora
  • Enterprise application integration software — Extensible markup language XML Hot technology ; IBM InfoSphere DataStage; Oracle Fusion Middleware; Progress Sonic ESB
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software — Microsoft Dynamics Hot technology ; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft Hot technology ; SAP software Hot technology ; 10 more
  • Enterprise system management software — IBM Power Systems software
  • Filesystem software — File transfer protocol FTP software; Samba; Symantec Veritas File System; Symantec Veritas Volume Manager
  • Financial analysis software — Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
  • Graphical user interface development software — TKSoftware RCM software
  • Helpdesk or call center software — Help desk software
  • Human resources software — Human resource management software HRMS
  • Internet browser software — Microsoft Internet Explorer; Netscape Navigator
  • LAN software — Local area network LAN software
  • Metadata management software — Quest Erwin Data Modeler
  • Network conferencing software — Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS
  • Network connectivity terminal emulation software — Telnet programs software; Zephyr EXTRA! Terminal Emulation
  • Network monitoring software — Dartware InterMapper; Nagios
  • Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software — Firewall software; Virtual private networking VPN software
  • Object or component oriented development software — C# Hot technology ; Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS Hot technology ; Objective C Hot technology ; Perl Hot technology ; 7 more
  • Object oriented data base management software — Microsoft Visual FoxPro; PostgreSQL Hot technology
  • Office suite software — Corel WordPerfect Office Suite; Microsoft Office software In-Demand Hot technology
  • Operating system software — Apple macOS Hot technology ; Linux Hot technology ; Shell script Hot technology ; UNIX Hot technology ; 4 more
  • Platform interconnectivity software — IBM iSeries Access
  • Portal server software — Apache HTTP Server; Oracle iPlanet Web Server
  • Presentation software — Apple iWork Keynote; Microsoft PowerPoint Hot technology
  • Process mapping and design software — Microsoft Visio Hot technology
  • Project management software — Microsoft Project Hot technology ; Oracle Primavera Systems
  • Requirements analysis and system architecture software — Unified modeling language UML
  • Software defined networking/ virtualization software — Cisco Systems WAN Manager
  • Spreadsheet software — Apple iWork Numbers; Microsoft Excel In-Demand Hot technology
  • Transaction security and virus protection software — McAfee; NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
  • Transaction server software — Customer information control system CICS
  • Video creation and editing software — Apple Final Cut Pro; Apple iMovie
  • Web page creation and editing software — Microsoft FrontPage
  • Web platform development software — Apache Tomcat Hot technology ; Node.js Hot technology ; Ruby on Rails Hot technology ; Spring Framework Hot technology ; 12 more
  • Wireless software — Mobile wireless network infrastructure software
  • Word processing software — Apple iWork Pages; Microsoft Word Hot technology
Hot technology
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.
In demand
In Demand skills are frequently included in employer job postings for this occupation.

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Working with Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  • Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Detailed Work Activities

Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities

Work Context

  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded “Every day.”
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 83% responded “A lot of freedom.”
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 78% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 63% responded “Every day.”
  • Contact With Others — 58% responded “Constant contact with others.”
  • Spend Time Sitting — 59% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Coordinate or Lead Others — 64% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 70% responded “Very high responsibility.”
  • Telephone — 52% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 54% responded “A lot of freedom.”
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 46% responded “Very important results.”
  • Duration of Typical Work Week — 65% responded “More than 40 hours.”
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 39% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 45% responded “Every day.”
  • Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 43% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 66% responded “Every day.”
  • Consequence of Error — 38% responded “Extremely serious.”
  • Level of Competition — 37% responded “Highly competitive.”
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 41% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Time Pressure — 43% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Frequency of Conflict Situations — 47% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Deal With External Customers — 40% responded “Important.”
  • Letters and Memos — 36% responded “Once a year or more but not every month.”

Experience Requirements

Job Zone

Title
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Job Zone Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
SVP Range
(7.0 to < 8.0)

Training & Credentials

State training
Local training
Certifications
Find certifications nationwide
State licenses

Apprenticeship Opportunities

Start your career and build your skillset. Visit Apprenticeship.gov to learn about opportunities related to this occupation.

Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
  • Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
  • Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Operations Analysis — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Management of Financial Resources — Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
  • Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Knowledge

  • Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Personnel and Human Resources — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  • Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 48%
     
    Bachelor’s degree required
  • 26%
     
    Some college, no degree required
  • 14%
     
    Master’s degree required

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Number Facility — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Interests

Interest code: CEI
Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
  • Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
  • Enterprising — Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
  • Investigative — Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Work Values

  • Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
  • Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  • Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  • Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  • Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  • Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  • Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
  • Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2023)
$81.50 hourly, $169,510 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2023)
613,500 employees
Projected growth (2023-2033)
Much faster than average (9% or higher)
Projected job openings (2023-2033)
54,700
State trends
Top industries (2023)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 wage data and 2023-2033 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2023-2033). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

More Information

Professional Associations

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

National Associations
Accreditation, Certification, & Unions