Technology and Mathematics · Career brief

Computer Systems Analyst

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Computer Systems Analyst at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$105,850

High national median pay

2025 national median. Top quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

7.9%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

32,900

Lots of annual openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is typically expected

Bachelor's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Analytical

Problem-solving and analysis dominate the profile

Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions to restore normal functioning.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are pay, growth, and opening volume; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if analytical work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a bachelor's-degree path. Main tradeoff: Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

Before choosing, compare:Software Developer Cybersecurity Analyst Data Scientist

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Computer Systems Analyst with another field Explore rankings in Technology and Mathematics Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$105,850

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

7.9%employment growth32,900openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Bachelor's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

544,400

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Computer systems analysts (15-1211).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions to restore normal functioning.
Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer-related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.
Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility so that information can be shared.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Working with Computers5.0
Getting Information4.6
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.6
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.4
Processing Information4.4

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Investigative6.4
Conventional5.9
Realistic3.3
Enterprising2.2
Artistic2.0
Social1.9

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Computers and Electronics Mathematics Telecommunications Engineering and Technology

Software and tools named in job postings

Atlassian JIRA ServiceNow Python Structured query language SQL

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Build one small working project from a blank file, then diagnose and fix at least one failure without copying a finished answer.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

The tradeoff that matters most

Systems analysis sits between business needs and technical implementation. BLS explicitly expects expansion of IT and AI to create work designing and installing systems, even as the tools used to perform analysis change.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Is systems analyst a good career?

Consider this field if its core work interests you: analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Try an introductory project, class, or permitted observation before committing to training. Compare the actual cost and required experience with entry-level work available where you plan to live.

Systems analyst salary

The national median annual wage in May 2025 was $105,850. This is a benchmark rather than an expected starting salary; actual compensation varies by experience, location, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.

Systems analyst vs software engineer

Consider Computer Systems Analyst if you want to analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Consider Software Developer if you would rather research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Compare a sample task and the qualification requirements for each before choosing between them.

Will AI replace systems analysts?

The evidence here does not establish a replacement probability. Ask how tools change requirements gathering, evaluating systems, integration testing, and communication between users and developers. A useful project should show that you can check whether a change solves the business problem.

Adjacent options

Compare before committing

The useful question is not whether one field wins overall, but what changes when you choose a nearby path. Explore the full career guides for Software Developer, Cybersecurity Analyst, Data Scientist, Operations Research Analysts.