Computer Systems Engineers | Median Salary: $93,500 | Search By State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin
Many computer systems engineers across the U.S. share a few key professional traits. For example, cooperation, initiative, and achievement/effort can be critical for success in the industry, especially when mixed with career training. Around 385,200 people were working as computer systems engineers nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's crucial to cultivate these characteristics and receive solid training, particularly if you're preparing to move forward in the field.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay for computer systems engineers in the U.S. was $93,500 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly income of $44.90. Of course, pay can vary with training and by place. Below, you'll find more data about computer systems engineers, including incomes and job density for metro areas all over the U.S..
Computer systems engineers should be skilled in:
Oral Comprehension Oral Expression Problem Sensitivity Speech Clarity Number Facility
Different people go into different careers; computer systems engineers are typically:
Investigative Conventional Realistic
Working as a computer systems engineer requires knowledge in subjects like:
Computers and Electronics English Language Design Communications and Media Telecommunications
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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of people working as computer systems engineers). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of computer systems engineers in each city as compared to the national average.
Browse the median incomes for computer systems engineers across the country. Can't find the city you're looking for? Check out CareerXE™ at WorldWideLearn.com .
Alabama
Anniston
NA
$87,700
$42.10
$99,200
$47.70
NA
Birmingham
850
$77,900
$37.50
$94,300
$45.30
-41.9%
Huntsville
3,340
$91,200
$43.90
$107,900
$51.90
451.7%
Mobile
200
$69,800
$33.60
$79,100
$38.00
-59.8%
Montgomery
140
$75,900
$36.50
$88,600
$42.60
-71.3%
Alaska
Anchorage
230
$70,800
$34.10
$86,900
$41.80
-52.5%
Arizona
Flagstaff
60
$76,000
$36.50
$101,100
$48.60
-65.5%
Phoenix
3,530
$84,400
$40.60
$102,400
$49.20
-32.2%
Tucson
2,890
$84,200
$40.50
$99,700
$47.90
170.6%
Yuma
NA
$78,300
$37.60
$95,500
$45.90
NA
Arkansas
Fayetteville
480
$73,200
$35.20
$84,500
$40.60
-17.4%
Little Rock
280
$64,600
$31.10
$77,900
$37.50
-71.2%
California
Bakersfield
220
$105,700
$50.80
$124,500
$59.80
-71.6%
Chico
30
$78,800
$37.90
$124,600
$59.90
-84.4%
Fresno
80
$74,700
$35.90
$95,000
$45.70
-92.1%
Los Angeles (Area)
19,940
$98,900
$47.60
$122,300
$58.80
39.7%
Modesto
30
$98,600
$47.40
$113,700
$54.60
-92.7%
Napa
NA
$102,900
$49.50
$132,400
$63.60
NA
Oakland
3,960
$94,500
$45.50
$118,000
$56.70
35.4%
Oxnard
700
$94,000
$45.20
$116,700
$56.10
-18.8%
Riverside
1,310
$100,700
$48.40
$124,800
$60.00
-63%
Sacramento
3,980
$89,000
$42.80
$106,500
$51.20
58.4%
Salinas
100
$61,600
$29.60
$89,400
$43.00
-78.7%
San Diego
4,530
$92,000
$44.20
$115,700
$55.60
20%
San Francisco (Area)
11,240
$103,000
$49.50
$126,400
$60.80
93.3%
San Francisco (City)
7,280
$111,500
$53.60
$134,800
$64.80
151.1%
San Jose
24,460
$124,800
$60.00
$152,700
$73.40
833.2%
San Luis Obispo
110
$69,200
$33.30
$84,500
$40.60
-64.1%
Santa Barbara
850
$96,300
$46.30
$118,100
$56.80
68.7%
Santa Cruz
120
$85,400
$41.10
$105,300
$50.60
-51.2%
Santa Rosa
510
$113,500
$54.60
$130,800
$62.90
-3.1%
Stockton
110
$102,600
$49.30
$118,800
$57.10
-82.9%
Vallejo
50
$110,200
$53.00
$148,800
$71.50
-86.2%
Colorado
Boulder
2,590
$105,500
$50.70
$131,000
$63.00
463.4%
Colorado Springs
2,950
$95,000
$45.70
$112,000
$53.80
305.6%
Denver
9,600
$93,200
$44.80
$114,200
$54.90
167.2%
Fort Collins
890
NA
NA
NA
NA
135%
Grand Junction
NA
$112,600
$54.20
$124,200
$59.70
NA
Greeley
50
$79,500
$38.20
$93,800
$45.10
-78.9%
Connecticut
Bridgeport
1,800
$92,300
$44.40
$121,500
$58.40
-3.3%
Hartford
1,270
$81,800
$39.30
$96,400
$46.40
-23.6%
New Haven
260
$86,600
$41.60
$103,000
$49.50
-70.7%
Norwich
160
$91,100
$43.80
$120,500
$57.90
-59.3%
Florida
Bradenton
110
$76,200
$36.70
$97,800
$47.00
-84.5%
Cape Coral
60
$87,600
$42.10
$116,800
$56.20
-89.9%
Deltona
60
$64,900
$31.20
$83,700
$40.20
-86.8%
Fort Walton Beach
460
$78,700
$37.80
$92,800
$44.60
101.5%
Gainesville
120
NA
NA
NA
NA
-66.7%
Jacksonville
830
$98,900
$47.60
$110,300
$53.00
-51.7%
Lakeland
60
$80,000
$38.50
$95,300
$45.80
-89%
Miami (Area)
3,380
$81,300
$39.10
$100,200
$48.20
-42.8%
Naples
60
$88,400
$42.50
$113,800
$54.70
-82.1%
Orlando
1,810
$86,200
$41.50
$103,600
$49.80
-38.1%
Palm Bay
1,630
$97,300
$46.80
$117,000
$56.30
183.7%
Pensacola
120
$80,800
$38.90
$94,700
$45.50
-73.2%
Port St. Lucie
70
$38,500
$18.50
$53,400
$25.70
-80.3%
Tallahassee
210
$79,500
$38.20
$91,900
$44.20
-56.7%
Tampa
2,070
$82,400
$39.60
$100,500
$48.30
-37.8%
Georgia
Atlanta
7,370
$85,900
$41.30
$108,300
$52.10
9.2%
Augusta
140
$66,400
$31.90
$95,700
$46.00
-76.6%
Columbus
NA
$88,700
$42.70
$105,600
$50.80
NA
Savannah
50
$73,700
$35.40
$82,400
$39.60
-88%
Warner Robins
140
$81,700
$39.30
$109,100
$52.50
-13.4%
Hawaii
Honolulu
420
$83,200
$40.00
$102,600
$49.30
-66.9%
Idaho
Boise City
970
$85,700
$41.20
$104,000
$50.00
24.9%
Idaho Falls
NA
$96,700
$46.50
$109,700
$52.80
NA
Illinois
Bloomington
60
$85,800
$41.20
$106,800
$51.30
-75.1%
Champaign
200
$83,900
$40.30
$106,400
$51.20
-31.2%
Chicago (Area)
15,330
$84,200
$40.50
$101,800
$49.00
-16%
Peoria
NA
$79,300
$38.10
$99,200
$47.70
NA
Rockford
80
$70,200
$33.80
$86,300
$41.50
-81.5%
Springfield
NA
$86,100
$41.40
$105,100
$50.50
NA
Indiana
Columbus
40
$86,400
$41.50
$104,000
$50.00
-68.5%
Elkhart
40
$61,100
$29.40
$72,100
$34.70
-85.8%
Evansville
90
$73,900
$35.60
$87,200
$41.90
-82.7%
Fort Wayne
520
$76,800
$36.90
$91,400
$43.90
-14%
Indianapolis
1,910
$76,800
$36.90
$93,600
$45.00
-25.7%
Kokomo
190
$91,600
$44.10
$103,000
$49.50
66.3%
Lafayette
70
$69,100
$33.20
$77,900
$37.50
-73.1%
South Bend
50
$77,600
$37.30
$91,300
$43.90
-86%
Iowa
Davenport
250
$91,000
$43.80
$114,900
$55.20
-53.9%
Des Moines
490
$86,200
$41.40
$99,400
$47.80
-47.9%
Dubuque
NA
$62,200
$29.90
$70,400
$33.90
NA
Iowa City
NA
$58,800
$28.30
$74,400
$35.80
NA
Sioux City
40
$79,500
$38.20
$96,000
$46.20
-81.3%
Kansas
Topeka
130
$63,300
$30.40
$77,700
$37.40
-58.3%
Wichita
460
$79,300
$38.10
$98,000
$47.10
-47.8%
Kentucky
Elizabethtown
30
$76,400
$36.70
$98,500
$47.30
-75.8%
Lexington
390
$83,200
$40.00
$101,700
$48.90
-45.9%
Louisville
1,040
$77,400
$37.20
$91,500
$44.00
-40.5%
Louisiana
Baton Rouge
330
$67,300
$32.30
$92,700
$44.60
-69.7%
New Orleans
330
$73,600
$35.40
$89,700
$43.10
-78.2%
Shreveport
40
$60,000
$28.90
$76,500
$36.80
-92.2%
Maine
Bangor
NA
$80,700
$38.80
$98,100
$47.20
NA
Portland
380
$85,900
$41.30
$103,100
$49.50
-34.9%
Maryland
Baltimore
6,420
$91,900
$44.20
$120,200
$57.80
73%
Hagerstown
100
$82,900
$39.90
$110,000
$52.90
-63.3%
Massachusetts
Barnstable Town
90
$98,400
$47.30
$116,000
$55.80
-68.2%
Boston (Area)
NA
$93,600
$45.00
$115,900
$55.70
NA
Pittsfield
NA
$90,600
$43.60
$106,800
$51.40
NA
Springfield
410
$74,900
$36.00
$88,500
$42.50
-52%
Worcester
890
$96,300
$46.30
$114,800
$55.20
-25%
Michigan
Ann Arbor
600
$77,900
$37.50
$96,300
$46.30
7.5%
Battle Creek
40
$65,500
$31.50
$74,500
$35.80
-73.5%
Detroit (Area)
4,850
$82,400
$39.60
$96,400
$46.30
-11.3%
Flint
100
$85,600
$41.20
$102,000
$49.00
-73.4%
Grand Rapids
240
$80,200
$38.50
$95,300
$45.80
-77.7%
Holland
210
$78,800
$37.90
$95,800
$46.10
-29.9%
Kalamazoo
170
$76,100
$36.60
$90,300
$43.40
-58.1%
Lansing
230
$82,100
$39.50
$99,900
$48.00
-61.4%
Minnesota
Duluth
60
$59,200
$28.50
$76,400
$36.80
-82.4%
Minneapolis
5,740
$93,700
$45.00
$109,900
$52.80
12.5%
Mississippi
Jackson
120
$80,100
$38.50
$92,800
$44.60
-82.9%
Pascagoula
NA
$97,000
$46.60
$119,000
$57.20
NA
Missouri
Jefferson City
120
$94,600
$45.50
$110,400
$53.10
-51.5%
Kansas City
4,390
$74,000
$35.60
$92,000
$44.20
50.6%
Springfield
140
$69,900
$33.60
$79,200
$38.10
-75.4%
St. Louis
2,090
$84,600
$40.70
$102,700
$49.40
-45.4%
Montana
Missoula
NA
$75,400
$36.20
$82,400
$39.60
NA
Nebraska
Lincoln
370
$59,200
$28.50
$75,900
$36.50
-23.3%
Omaha
2,100
$79,100
$38.00
$99,000
$47.60
57.8%
Nevada
Las Vegas
770
$83,500
$40.20
$98,700
$47.40
-69.4%
Reno
690
$76,600
$36.80
$101,900
$49.00
16.6%
New Hampshire
Manchester
310
$100,600
$48.30
$128,900
$62.00
6%
New Jersey
Atlantic City
260
$93,400
$44.90
$110,700
$53.20
-37.8%
Trenton
1,110
$93,800
$45.10
$119,200
$57.30
74%
New Mexico
Albuquerque
1,470
$98,800
$47.50
$121,500
$58.40
30.5%
Las Cruces
260
$72,900
$35.10
$88,100
$42.40
32.9%
Santa Fe
150
$72,300
$34.80
$85,100
$40.90
-22.1%
New York
Albany
500
$76,200
$36.70
$94,800
$45.60
-61.2%
Buffalo
810
$81,100
$39.00
$95,200
$45.80
-48.8%
Ithaca
40
$73,600
$35.40
$81,900
$39.40
-71.6%
Kingston
NA
$70,700
$34.00
$84,400
$40.60
NA
New York (Area)
19,710
$97,100
$46.70
$120,100
$57.80
-10.5%
Rochester
1,630
$80,800
$38.80
$97,200
$46.80
12.8%
Syracuse
240
$80,900
$38.90
$105,800
$50.90
-73.7%
Utica
150
$82,900
$39.90
$100,400
$48.30
-59.9%
North Carolina
Asheville
60
$70,800
$34.00
$85,900
$41.30
-88.6%
Charlotte
2,560
$94,000
$45.20
$108,100
$52.00
3.6%
Durham
4,620
$98,800
$47.50
$120,900
$58.10
468.7%
Fayetteville
70
$76,600
$36.80
$84,200
$40.50
-82.3%
Greensboro
540
$90,000
$43.30
$107,200
$51.50
-47.4%
Greenville
40
$103,300
$49.70
$120,800
$58.10
-81.6%
Hickory
60
$72,000
$34.60
$93,700
$45.10
-85%
Raleigh
2,490
$87,800
$42.20
$106,900
$51.40
69.3%
Wilmington
40
$80,900
$38.90
$90,800
$43.70
-90.4%
Winston-Salem
170
$91,200
$43.80
$108,900
$52.40
-71.8%
North Dakota
Fargo
NA
$88,800
$42.70
$102,400
$49.20
NA
Ohio
Akron
580
$68,700
$33.00
$88,300
$42.50
-38.6%
Canton
50
$75,500
$36.30
$92,300
$44.40
-90.1%
Cincinnati
1,450
$79,600
$38.30
$99,200
$47.70
-50.5%
Cleveland
1,250
$75,000
$36.00
$85,200
$41.00
-57.8%
Columbus
3,990
$84,900
$40.80
$100,700
$48.40
49.2%
Dayton
1,850
$86,800
$41.70
$108,800
$52.30
68.5%
Toledo
190
$71,700
$34.50
$82,800
$39.80
-78.1%
Youngstown
60
$64,100
$30.80
$81,000
$38.90
-90.6%
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
730
$77,800
$37.40
$95,100
$45.70
-55.9%
Tulsa
780
NA
NA
NA
NA
-37.5%
Oregon
Corvallis
40
$84,300
$40.50
$102,000
$49.00
-59.1%
Eugene
100
$93,000
$44.70
$108,800
$52.30
-75.7%
Medford
30
$68,900
$33.10
$84,200
$40.50
-86.6%
Portland
2,060
$95,300
$45.80
$114,900
$55.20
-29.8%
Salem
NA
$83,200
$40.00
$102,000
$49.00
NA
Pennsylvania
Allentown
440
$86,100
$41.40
$107,100
$51.50
-54.8%
Altoona
80
$56,300
$27.10
$63,400
$30.50
-53.8%
Erie
80
$72,700
$34.90
$91,000
$43.70
-78.9%
Harrisburg
530
$76,000
$36.60
$98,200
$47.20
-41.8%
Johnstown
60
$80,800
$38.90
$104,400
$50.20
-62.2%
Lancaster
150
$75,100
$36.10
$97,600
$46.90
-78.2%
Philadelphia (Area)
NA
$94,000
$45.20
$115,500
$55.50
NA
Pittsburgh
2,780
$80,000
$38.40
$100,500
$48.30
-15.5%
Reading
160
$63,800
$30.70
$88,200
$42.40
-66.8%
Scranton
140
$91,900
$44.20
$115,100
$55.30
-81.8%
State College
230
$68,100
$32.70
$97,300
$46.80
16.6%
York
80
$82,200
$39.50
$96,800
$46.50
-83.4%
Rhode Island
Providence
1,640
$96,400
$46.40
$120,500
$57.90
37.1%
South Carolina
Charleston
460
$68,100
$32.70
$80,000
$38.50
-43.9%
Columbia
400
$81,200
$39.00
$101,200
$48.70
-59.2%
Greenville
480
$79,200
$38.10
$93,400
$44.90
-44.8%
Spartanburg
110
$63,600
$30.60
$74,200
$35.70
-68.1%
South Dakota
Sioux Falls
190
$66,400
$31.90
$80,200
$38.60
-52%
Tennessee
Chattanooga
NA
$59,700
$28.70
$68,400
$32.90
NA
Clarksville
40
NA
NA
NA
NA
-80.6%
Kingsport
40
$82,300
$39.60
$110,700
$53.20
-86.9%
Knoxville
430
$85,900
$41.30
$127,400
$61.30
-55.5%
Memphis
1,090
$72,400
$34.80
$86,300
$41.50
-38.7%
Nashville
760
$75,500
$36.30
$89,200
$42.90
-64%
Texas
Amarillo
60
$73,100
$35.10
$96,700
$46.50
-82.3%
Austin
5,660
$96,600
$46.50
$116,900
$56.20
149.5%
Beaumont
NA
$98,600
$47.40
$119,400
$57.40
NA
College Station
320
$63,100
$30.30
$108,300
$52.10
20.1%
Corpus Christi
NA
$80,700
$38.80
$96,700
$46.50
NA
Dallas (Area)
17,950
$94,300
$45.30
$115,300
$55.40
108.6%
El Paso
NA
$71,100
$34.20
$119,200
$57.30
NA
Houston
6,720
$88,800
$42.70
$108,000
$51.90
-11.1%
Killeen
330
$78,100
$37.50
$94,300
$45.40
-9%
Lubbock
100
$75,900
$36.50
$105,500
$50.70
-73%
McAllen
40
$72,500
$34.90
$89,300
$42.90
-94.2%
Midland
NA
$93,600
$45.00
$110,600
$53.20
NA
Odessa
NA
$92,300
$44.40
$112,300
$54.00
NA
San Antonio
2,370
$81,800
$39.30
$101,200
$48.70
-4%
Waco
NA
$75,900
$36.50
$95,900
$46.10
NA
Wichita Falls
NA
$64,100
$30.80
$80,100
$38.50
NA
Utah
Logan
30
NA
NA
NA
NA
-78.7%
Ogden
320
$71,200
$34.20
$89,300
$42.90
-45%
Provo
510
$71,600
$34.40
$89,500
$43.00
0.2%
Salt Lake City
2,360
$80,000
$38.50
$96,200
$46.20
31.1%
Vermont
Burlington
390
$85,800
$41.30
$104,300
$50.10
19.9%
Virginia
Blacksburg
190
$66,600
$32.00
$80,600
$38.70
1.9%
Charlottesville
250
$80,000
$38.40
$96,500
$46.40
-10%
Harrisonburg
70
$50,600
$24.30
$67,400
$32.40
-57.2%
Lynchburg
190
$84,800
$40.80
$101,300
$48.70
-37%
Richmond
2,760
$90,400
$43.50
$110,700
$53.20
57.3%
Roanoke
250
$94,200
$45.30
$104,900
$50.40
-45.4%
Virginia Beach
1,910
$92,700
$44.60
$119,100
$57.30
-12.1%
Winchester
NA
$112,500
$54.10
$127,900
$61.50
NA
Washington
Bellingham
60
$78,800
$37.90
$91,900
$44.20
-73.5%
Bremerton
100
$95,100
$45.70
$118,100
$56.80
-59.4%
Olympia
1,180
$85,600
$41.20
$93,000
$44.70
316.1%
Seattle (Area)
15,710
$94,500
$45.40
$109,600
$52.70
96.3%
Spokane
NA
$73,500
$35.30
$84,800
$40.80
NA
Yakima
40
$83,000
$39.90
$104,400
$50.20
-85.1%
West Virginia
Charleston
40
$61,600
$29.60
$71,900
$34.60
-91.3%
Wisconsin
Appleton
70
$78,700
$37.80
$93,900
$45.10
-78.7%
Eau Claire
90
$69,700
$33.50
$86,900
$41.80
-58.2%
Green Bay
110
$80,500
$38.70
$95,500
$45.90
-77.8%
La Crosse
80
$70,100
$33.70
$84,200
$40.50
-62.2%
Madison
700
$76,900
$37.00
$91,800
$44.20
-27.7%
Milwaukee
1,440
$81,400
$39.10
$97,800
$47.00
-40.3%
Oshkosh
30
$70,500
$33.90
$82,800
$39.80
-87.3%
Racine
80
$75,800
$36.40
$90,600
$43.50
-62.9%
Wausau
30
$81,400
$39.10
$98,600
$47.40
-83.4%