Career profile · 15-1299
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.
What the work can involve
- 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.
- Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.
Selected core tasks from O*NET 31.0. Responsibilities vary by employer, specialization and experience.
Preparation and entry routes
This broad O*NET group commonly involves vocational training, related experience or an associate-level route. It does not mean every course in a related subject meets the requirements.
Check the route for the specific occupation where you plan to work. Education, employer experience requirements, occupational licensing and industry certification can be separate steps.
Understand the different credentials →Skills used in this occupation
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Knowledge to build
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Telecommunications
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Common work activities
- Working with Computers
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Getting Information
- Processing Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Training subjects to investigate
The federal education-to-occupation crosswalk connects this role to the subjects below. These links do not endorse a school or guarantee that any particular award qualifies a graduate for the job.
Working conditions to consider
These are the most common published responses to selected O*NET work-setting questions. They describe occupation-level survey findings, not every employer or a particular job.
| Work-setting question | Most common response | Share giving that response |
|---|---|---|
| Contact With Others | Contact with others most of the time | 36.4%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | Once a year or more but not every month | 47.6%08/2024 · sample 21 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | Never | 81.0%08/2024 · sample 21 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | Never | 66.7%08/2024 · sample 21 |
| Spend Time Sitting | Continually or almost continually | 40.9%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Spend Time Standing | Less than half the time | 61.9%08/2024 · sample 21 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | Less than half the time | 33.3%08/2024 · sample 21 |
| Time Pressure | Once a week or more but not every day | 59.1%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | Never | 47.6%08/2024 · sample 21 |
| Work Schedules | Regular (established routine, set schedule) | 81.8%08/2024 · sample 22 |
O*NET 31.0 Work Context, selected topics. Only unsuppressed source responses with sample size at least 10 are shown. A most-common response need not be a majority. Sampling uncertainty applies; source dates vary. Ask employers about actual schedules, accessibility, protective equipment and working conditions.
Software used in the workplace
Use these O*NET examples to ask how a course builds practical digital skills. They are workplace examples, not a required shopping list or confirmation of a school’s curriculum.
- Access software: Citrix cloud computing software, Symark PowerBroker
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics, Minitab, SAS, StataCorp Stata
- Application server software: Atlassian Bitbucket, Docker, GitHub, GitLab
- Backup or archival software: Veritas NetBackup
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Apache Spark, IBM Cognos Impromptu, MicroStrategy, Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Dropbox, Slack, Software as a service SaaS
- Cloud-based management software: Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation, Google Cloud software, IBM WebSphere, IBM WebSphere MQ
- Clustering software: VMware
- Communications server software: IBM Domino
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Bentley MicroStation, Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
- Computer based training software: InScribe
- Configuration management software: Chef, IBM Rational Build Forge, IBM Rational ClearCase, IBM Terraform
Selected categories and examples from O*NET 31.0 Software Skills. Products and employer requirements change. These examples are not endorsements; check the complete official occupation profile.
Pay & employment outlook
Salary estimates for computer systems engineers/architects
This O*NET specialty shares the BLS 15-1299 occupation series. Pay is measured for Computer Occupations, All Other, not separately for this specialty.
The median divides workers into two equally sized groups by pay. It is not a starting salary, a school’s graduate outcome or a promise of employment. Lower percentiles are not automatically new graduates.
National outlook: 2025–2035
- Typical education for entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- Typical on-the-job training
- None
BLS national employment projections, 2025–2035. Openings include people leaving occupations or the labor force; these are not advertised vacancies. Education categories describe typical entry, not legal eligibility or a guarantee that any specific program is sufficient.
Compare wages across 51 state/DC estimates
| State | Annual median | Hourly median | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $106,330 | $51.12 | 2,630 |
| Alaska | $105,960 | $50.94 | 710 |
| Arizona | $105,240 | $50.60 | 5,510 |
| Arkansas | $86,940 | $41.80 | 1,120 |
| California | $134,440 | $64.63 | 80,150 |
| Colorado | $139,580 | $67.10 | 11,800 |
| Connecticut | $127,720 | $61.40 | 3,100 |
| Delaware | $137,470 | $66.09 | 860 |
| District of Columbia | $156,590 | $75.29 | 17,200 |
| Florida | $105,370 | $50.66 | 13,710 |
| Georgia | $104,610 | $50.29 | 20,630 |
| Hawaii | $120,100 | $57.74 | 2,080 |
| Idaho | $98,700 | $47.45 | 1,040 |
| Illinois | $99,360 | $47.77 | 11,160 |
| Indiana | $93,540 | $44.97 | 3,340 |
| Iowa | $107,340 | $51.61 | 3,850 |
| Kansas | $103,380 | $49.70 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $89,420 | $42.99 | 1,850 |
| Louisiana | $77,000 | $37.02 | 5,020 |
| Maine | $107,990 | $51.92 | 900 |
| Maryland | $144,680 | $69.56 | 19,060 |
| Massachusetts | $109,590 | $52.69 | 6,170 |
| Michigan | $105,680 | $50.81 | 7,440 |
| Minnesota | $91,750 | $44.11 | 4,180 |
| Mississippi | $86,940 | $41.80 | 1,450 |
| Missouri | $101,040 | $48.58 | 14,340 |
| Montana | $81,970 | $39.41 | 540 |
| Nebraska | $92,480 | $44.46 | 2,280 |
| Nevada | $100,220 | $48.18 | 2,610 |
| New Hampshire | $91,720 | $44.10 | 970 |
| New Jersey | $108,310 | $52.07 | 12,010 |
| New Mexico | $127,090 | $61.10 | 1,650 |
| New York | $116,990 | $56.25 | 11,460 |
| North Carolina | $104,850 | $50.41 | 15,090 |
| North Dakota | $78,330 | $37.66 | 730 |
| Ohio | $109,780 | $52.78 | 6,150 |
| Oklahoma | $102,520 | $49.29 | 3,320 |
| Oregon | $97,350 | $46.80 | 2,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $107,230 | $51.55 | 14,580 |
| Rhode Island | $102,210 | $49.14 | 830 |
| South Carolina | $112,260 | $53.97 | 4,300 |
| South Dakota | $105,370 | $50.66 | 240 |
| Tennessee | $76,470 | $36.77 | 10,930 |
| Texas | $111,530 | $53.62 | 57,020 |
| Utah | $97,470 | $46.86 | 6,680 |
| Vermont | $111,530 | $53.62 | 1,320 |
| Virginia | $139,030 | $66.84 | 17,000 |
| Washington | $128,940 | $61.99 | 14,360 |
| West Virginia | $107,140 | $51.51 | 3,380 |
| Wisconsin | $88,130 | $42.37 | 4,680 |
| Wyoming | $94,520 | $45.44 | 170 |
Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan wages
Search the 472 published local-area estimates for this occupation. Metropolitan areas can cross state lines; a city’s postal name is not necessarily the statistical area’s name.
Sources: BLS May 2025 OEWS public downloads and 2025–2035 employment projections, retrieved September 9, 2026. Unpublished estimates stay unavailable. “+” means BLS’s upper reporting threshold ($239,200 annually or $115 hourly). Wages exclude self-employment and nonwage benefits. How to interpret these figures.
Compare the route and prepare for work
Questions to test the fit
- What does an entry-level working day look like, and how does it differ from the experienced role described here?
- Which tasks, work environments and schedules would I enjoy or find difficult?
- What education, supervised practice and credentials do local employers actually request?
- Can I speak with someone in the occupation or arrange a suitable workplace visit?
- How does the complete training cost compare with my realistic budget and available routes?
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Related through shared training-subject mappings. Entry requirements can differ substantially.
Sources and attribution
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Trade School Guides selects and organizes the material and adds explanatory guidance. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. Occupation code: 15-1299.08.
Training connections: CIP 2020–SOC 2018 crosswalk. Snapshot: September 8, 2026. See the methodology.