How to Become a Computer Systems Analyst
Study how an organization's software, hardware, and processes fit together, then design the improvements that make them work better. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $105,850 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$105,850/yr
Middle half
$82,860 to $134,110
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
34,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Systems Analysis
- Requirements Gathering
- SQL
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional)
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
55/100
Work-life balance
63/100
Stress level
52/100
Related careers
- Computer and Information Research Scientist$140,300 median
- Database Architect$139,500 median
- Computer Network Architect$134,050 median
- Video Game Designer$104,000 median
- Computer Programmer$100,390 median
- Network Support Specialist$76,220 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Computer Systems Analyst make?
The median pay for a Computer Systems Analyst is $105,850 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $82,860 and $134,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Computer Systems Analyst?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Management Information Systems, Computer Science, and Business Administration.
Is Computer Systems Analyst a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 34,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Computer Systems Analyst use most?
Common skills for this role are Systems Analysis, Requirements Gathering, SQL, Critical Thinking, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).