What do they do?
Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.
Also known as:
Electronic Data Interchange System Developer (EDI System Developer), Information Technology Architect (IT Architect), Network and Infrastructure Engineer, Network Engineer, Solutions Architect, Systems Architect, Systems Consultant, Systems Engineer
No Data Available
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2.7%
Change
Ranks #38 in job growth rate530Job Openings
Ranks #22 in net job growth
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- Bachelor's degree (39%)
- Some college, no degree (21%)
- Master's degree (14%)
- Associate's degree (14%)
- High school diploma equivalent (10%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (1%)
- Less than high school diploma (1%)
Most Popular Majors that prepare Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
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#1
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Degrees Granted
40,331
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Female Students
8,540
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Male Students
31,791
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Median Starting Salary
$62,633
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#2
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Degrees Granted
25,561
-
Female Students
5,380
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Male Students
20,181
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Median Starting Salary
$53,000
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#3
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Degrees Granted
9,330
-
Female Students
2,548
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Male Students
6,782
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Median Starting Salary
$53,350
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#4
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Degrees Granted
1,027
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Female Students
312
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Male Students
715
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Median Starting Salary
$63,500
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#5
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Degrees Granted
858
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Female Students
199
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Male Students
659
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Median Starting Salary
$47,533
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People in this career often have these skills:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
People in this career often know a lot about:
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
People in this career often do these activities:
- Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.
- Design integrated computer systems.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments.
- Identify information technology project resource requirements.
- Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
- Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
- Analyze security of systems, network, or data.
- Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.
- Document technical specifications or requirements.
- Prepare analytical reports.
- Communicate project information to others.
- Develop organizational goals or objectives.
- Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.
- Test computer hardware performance.
- Test software performance.
- Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
- Develop guidelines for system implementation.
- Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology.
- Design computer modeling or simulation programs.
- Develop models of information or communications systems.
- Develop detailed project plans.
- Design software applications.
- Configure computer networks.
- Manage information technology projects or system activities.
- Install computer software.
- Install computer hardware.
- Maintain computer hardware.
- Coordinate software or hardware installation.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
This page includes data from:
Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics
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