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Computer and Information Systems Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
Other titles employers use
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)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and analytical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
Subjects to know
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.6 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.6 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 48%
- A certificate or some college 32%
- A master's degree 17%
- A two-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web platform development software
- Development environment software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Data base management system software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Operating system software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 116,300
- Job openings each year
- 8,500
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 15.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 116,300 | 8,500 | 15.7% |
| Texas | 71,050 | 5,780 | 34.8% |
| New York | 35,160 | 250 | 7.8% |
| Florida | 29,220 | 2,250 | 24.0% |
| Illinois | 27,080 | 1,900 | 10.5% |
| New Jersey | 25,000 | 1,750 | 10.2% |
| North Carolina | 23,460 | 1,790 | 22.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 21,590 | 1,560 | 13.9% |
| Washington | 20,350 | 1,950 | 23.9% |
| Maryland | 17,930 | 1,340 | 19.0% |
| Virginia | 16,640 | 1,200 | 13.5% |
| Georgia | 16,500 | 1,250 | 21.9% |
| Arizona | 15,790 | 1,220 | 24.9% |
| Michigan | 15,600 | 1,110 | 12.4% |
| Colorado | 15,530 | 1,220 | 26.9% |
| Ohio | 13,610 | 970 | 12.9% |
| Tennessee | 12,860 | 1,050 | 34.7% |
| Minnesota | 12,110 | 880 | 14.7% |
| Connecticut | 10,640 | 760 | 11.9% |
| Missouri | 10,280 | 760 | 17.2% |
| Oregon | 9,950 | 760 | 22.1% |
| Massachusetts | 9,790 | 710 | 15.2% |
| Indiana | 8,280 | 610 | 17.1% |
| Utah | 7,740 | 630 | 34.1% |
| Wisconsin | 7,440 | 560 | 19.6% |
| Alabama | 5,990 | 430 | 11.5% |
| District of Columbia | 5,630 | 390 | 7.4% |
| South Carolina | 5,500 | 420 | 24.7% |
| Nebraska | 5,140 | 380 | 15.8% |
| Iowa | 4,510 | 330 | 16.8% |
| New Hampshire | 4,170 | 310 | 17.8% |
| Kansas | 4,110 | 290 | 12.3% |
| Arkansas | 4,080 | 310 | 19.6% |
| Oklahoma | 3,900 | 280 | 13.4% |
| Kentucky | 2,780 | 200 | 13.9% |
| Louisiana | 2,320 | 170 | 13.2% |
| Nevada | 2,190 | 170 | 23.0% |
| Delaware | 2,040 | 150 | 11.5% |
| Idaho | 2,010 | 160 | 25.6% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,880 | 140 | 22.1% |
| New Mexico | 1,750 | 140 | 24.1% |
| Mississippi | 1,650 | 120 | 19.6% |
| Maine | 1,540 | 110 | 7.7% |
| West Virginia | 1,200 | 90 | 14.3% |
| Montana | 1,090 | 80 | 23.9% |
| Vermont | 1,070 | 80 | 20.2% |
| Alaska | 1,030 | 70 | 4.0% |
| Rhode Island | 930 | 70 | 13.4% |
| North Dakota | 630 | 50 | 14.5% |
| Wyoming | 410 | 30 | 24.2% |
| South Dakota | 290 | 20 | 16.0% |
| Guam | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Virgin Islands | 40 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 7,191
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 7,499
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Degrees each year
- 4,347
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- —
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Degrees each year
- 2,144
- Admit rate
- 18%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,463
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
University of California-Berkeley
- Degrees each year
- 2,159
- Admit rate
- 12%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Degrees each year
- 1,118
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
University of Houston
- Degrees each year
- 1,301
- Admit rate
- 70%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Compare every college offering computer/information technology administration and management