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What is a usual wage for someone working in a computer systems field?

Like computer systems analysts and those that deal with information technology, what's a usual wage for someone with intermediate experience.

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Bright’s Answer

Hello this should do .

The wage for someone working in the computer systems field, such as a **computer systems analyst** or in **information technology (IT)**, can vary based on factors like location, company size, and specific job duties. However, for someone with **intermediate experience** (typically 3-5 years), here's a general breakdown:

### **Average Salary Range (U.S.):**
- **Computer Systems Analyst**:
- **Mid-Level**: Around **$70,000 - $90,000 per year**
- With more experience or in higher-demand areas (like tech hubs), it can go upwards of **$100,000** or more.

- **IT Specialist/Technician** (Intermediate level):
- **Mid-Level**: Around **$60,000 - $80,000 per year**
- Highly specialized roles (e.g., network engineers, cybersecurity analysts) can earn closer to **$90,000 - $100,000**.

- **Information Security Analyst**:
- **Mid-Level**: Typically around **$80,000 - $100,000** per year, due to the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals.

### Factors Influencing Salary:
- **Location**: Salaries are generally higher in cities with a high cost of living (e.g., San Francisco, New York) or in tech hubs like Silicon Valley.
- **Industry**: Tech companies, financial institutions, and healthcare sectors often pay more.
- **Certifications**: Additional certifications (e.g., CompTIA, Cisco, AWS) can boost your earning potential.

Overall, intermediate-level professionals in IT and computer systems can expect competitive wages, with significant potential for growth as they gain more expertise or specialize in high-demand areas.
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John’s Answer

Hi Lance,

The answer to your question really depends on what the job is, how much experience you have, what company you work for, and where you live.

In general I would say most people working on computers can start around making around $40-60k per year. With 3-5 years of experience you might be able to get up to $100k. Depending on the company and where you live, you could make $140-190 per year after having 6+ years of experience. I'm confident that there are programmers and engineers who make well over $200k per year, especially in silicone valley, San Francisco, and especially at big companies.

The more experience and skills you have, the more valuable you'll be in the tech field. However, I'd say that what makes tech candidates really stand out is their personality. Are they easy to get along with? Do they communicate clearly? Do that they collaborate well with cross-functional teams? These soft social skills are harder to "learn" than hard skills, so don't forget those skills when marketing yourself and your skills for jobs. I hope this helps! All the best,

-John
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Oscar’s Answer

Hello Lance, in computer systems field or Information technology there are a lot a factors as you see in previous answers , but the important thing here is you need to find the area with passion and you will growth with confidence.
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Chinyere’s Answer

Hey Lance!
Good question! The wage for someone working in the computer systems field, like a computer systems analyst or someone in information technology (IT), can vary depending on factors like location, the company, and the level of expertise. Here's a general idea of what to expect with intermediate experience:

Computer Systems Analyst:
- Average Salary: Typically ranges from $65,000 to $85,000 per year for someone with a few years of experience.
- Factors Affecting Pay:
- Location: Salaries are higher in tech hubs like Silicon Valley, Seattle, or New York City.
- Industry: Working in certain industries like finance or healthcare can offer higher pay.
- Education & Certifications: Having a degree in computer science or IT and certifications (like CompTIA, CISSP, or Microsoft) can increase your salary.

IT Professionals/Technicians (Intermediate Experience):
- Average Salary: Typically ranges from $50,000 to $75,000 per year, but roles like network administrators, systems engineers, and cybersecurity specialists can command higher salaries depending on skill set.

Senior-Level Roles (Experienced):
- For comparison, those with 5+ years of experience in these fields can expect salaries in the range of $90,000 to $120,000 or more, depending on specialization and location.

Location Matters:
- High-Cost Areas: In places like California, New York, and Washington D.C., salaries can be on the higher end of the spectrum.
- Low-Cost Areas: In regions with lower living costs, the pay may be slightly lower, but the opportunities for remote work are also growing in this field.

It’s great that you're looking into this field—it offers solid earning potential and plenty of room for growth, especially as you gain more experience and technical expertise. Keep building your skills, and you'll definitely see your earning potential increase over time!

Best wishes!
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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer

The salary ranges may vary depending on factors such as location, experiences, company size, education level and certifications.
Core IT Roles
These roles are central to managing and maintaining IT systems, networks, and hardware.
1. Computer Systems Analyst
Salary range: $70,000 - $95,000 per year.
Analyzes and improves IT systems by assessing user needs and providing technological solutions.

2. Network Administrator
Salary range: $60,000 - $85,000 per year.
Manages and maintains computer networks, including LANs, WANs, and network security.

3. Systems Administrator
Salary range: $65,000 - $90,000 per year.
Manages servers and IT infrastructure, ensuring that systems run efficiently and securely.

4. IT Manager
Salary range: $85,000 - $115,000 per year.
Oversees IT systems and teams, responsible for smooth IT operations and project management.

5. IT Support Specialist
Salary range: $50,000 - $75,000 per year.
Provides technical support, troubleshooting hardware and software issues.

6. Database Administrator (DBA)
Salary range: $80,000 - $105,000 per year.
Maintains and manages databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and performance.

7. Network Security Engineer
Salary range: $85,000 - $110,000 per year.
Specializes in securing an organization's network infrastructure against cyber threats.

Specialized IT Roles
These roles involve deep expertise in specific areas of IT, focusing on emerging technologies and security.

8. Cloud Architect / Cloud Engineer
Salary range: $95,000 - $130,000 per year.
Designs and implements cloud-based systems, working with platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

9. Information Security Analyst / Cybersecurity Analyst
Salary range: $80,000 - $110,000 per year.
Protects networks and data from cyber threats, with expertise in encryption, threat detection, and firewalls.

10. DevOps Engineer
Salary range: $85,000 - $120,000 per year.
Bridges software development and IT operations to ensure faster, reliable, and efficient deployment.

11. AI Engineer / Machine Learning Engineer
Salary range: $95,000 - $130,000 per year.
Builds AI models and machine learning algorithms, often using large datasets and advanced computing techniques.

12. IT Consultant
Salary range: $80,000 - $120,000 per year.
Advises businesses on their IT strategy and technology solutions to optimize operations and achieve business goals.

Software & Development Roles
These roles focus on creating and managing software, applications, and systems, which are key to modern IT.

13. Software Developer / Software Engineer
Salary range: $75,000 - $100,000 per year.
Designs, writes, and tests software applications. Expertise in languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript is often required.

14. Web Developer
Salary range: $65,000 - $95,000 per year.
Specializes in building websites and web applications, often with skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React or Angular.

15. Mobile App Developer
Salary range: $75,000 - $110,000 per year.
Develops applications for mobile platforms (iOS, Android), with proficiency in Swift, Kotlin, or React Native.

16. Game Developer
Salary range: $65,000 - $95,000 per year.
Creates video games, often working with game engines, programming languages, and graphics tools.

Design & User Experience Roles
While not directly involved in the technical aspects of IT, these roles are crucial to designing user-friendly applications and ensuring seamless interactions with IT systems.

17. UX/UI Designer
Salary range: $75,000 - $100,000 per year.
Designs the user experience and interface of software and websites, focusing on usability and aesthetic appeal.

18. Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
Salary range: $75,000 - $100,000 per year.
Analyzes business data to extract insights and provide strategic advice, often using data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI.

Summary of Intermediate-Level Salary Ranges:
Leadership & Senior Roles (e.g., IT Director, CIO, Systems Architect): $100,000 - $170,000
Specialized Technical Roles (e.g., Cloud Architect, DevOps Engineer, AI Engineer): $85,000 - $130,000
Core IT Roles (e.g., Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, IT Support): $50,000 - $95,000
Software & Development (e.g., Software Developer, Web Developer, Mobile App Developer): $65,000 - $110,000
Security & Data Management (e.g., Cybersecurity Analyst, DBA, BI Analyst): $75,000 - $110,000
Design & UX Roles (e.g., UX/UI Designer, Game Developer): $65,000 - $100,000

These salary ranges represent the typical earnings for intermediate-level professionals in each role. As mentioned earlier, various factors—including geographic location, company size, level of expertise, and certifications—can influence the specific salary. Additionally, some industries or organizations may offer additional benefits or bonuses to employees in these roles.

Good luck as you explore the exciting world of IT careers!
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David’s Answer

There are different websites to help you keep up to date with salaries (in case the information in our answers ages).
Some of them allow you to choose your country to ensure it is relevant to your circumstances.
So to add to the great answers already provided, this is an example of one we use salary figures from when estimating the value of our services, as a base for our calculations:

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Industry=Information_Technology_(IT)_Services/Salary

No recommendation associated with it; just try to find the site that you like for your economic area and keep an eye on changes over time. This can help you with salary negotiations, and knowing your worth - oh, and when not to ask for an increase when the market is slow!
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