Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.
Also called: Infrastructure Engineer · IT Architect (Information Technology Architect) · IT Engineer (Information Technology Engineer) · Network and Infrastructure Engineer · Solutions Architect · Systems Application Engineer
Median pay (national)
$108,970
$52,650–$176,800 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
439,380
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+8.2%
~31,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for computer systems engineers/architects shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $176,800 versus $52,650 at the bottom 10% — 3.4x. The median of $108,970 leaves roughly 62% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +8.2% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 31,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Virgin Islands pays the most for this role (median $179,830, +65% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $42,250 — a 326% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Web Services AWS software, Ansible software, Atlassian JIRA as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Science
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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 installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware.
- Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.
- 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.
- Verify stability, interoperability, portability, security, or scalability of system architecture.
- Research, test, or verify proper functioning of software patches and fixes.
- Configure servers to meet functional specifications.
Tools & technology
- Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Atlassian JIRA
- Bash
- C++
- Docker
- Firewall software
- Git
- GitHub
- Go
- IBM Terraform
- JavaScript
- Jenkins CI
- Kubernetes
- Linux
Knowledge areas
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Telecommunications
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
- Design
- Mathematics