If you like to create diagrams and build computer systems, you might want to be a computer analyst. In this position, you will initiate computer system upgrades, publish and write technical reports and requirements. You will also configure hardware and software, train end-users on the software, and ensure that those who use computers do so efficiently.
To be a computer analyst, you will need strong analytical skills, pay attention to detail and be a team player. You will also need written and oral communication skills and be flexible in your schedule and computer duties. Your position will require adaptability and initiative.
You will need a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field and have on-the-job experience. You can earn a master's degree for advanced placement and salaries. The outlook in the near future for computer analysts is excellent, and the job will grow faster than many jobs in the next several years. Because of your education, skills, and experience, you can make a median salary of $70,000 per year.
What is a Computer Analyst?
What Does a Computer Analyst Do
There are certain skills that many computer analysts have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed creativity, analytical skills and communication skills.
How To Become a Computer Analyst
If you're interested in becoming a computer analyst, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 57.6% of computer analysts have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 8.8% of computer analysts have master's degrees. Even though most computer analysts have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Computer Analyst Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a computer analyst can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as systems administrator, progress to a title such as information technology manager and then eventually end up with the title information technology director.
Average Salary for a Computer Analyst
What Am I Worth?
States With The Most Computer Analyst Jobs
Mouse over a state to see the number of active computer analyst jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where computer analysts earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Number Of Computer Analyst Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,754 | $87,864 |
| 2 | Texas | 1,710 | $67,122 |
| 3 | Virginia | 1,463 | $75,927 |
| 4 | Florida | 1,460 | $62,475 |
| 5 | New York | 1,210 | $81,592 |
| 6 | Illinois | 1,104 | $77,856 |
| 7 | Maryland | 1,085 | $78,856 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 904 | $81,709 |
| 9 | Georgia | 888 | $73,542 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 879 | $81,286 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 832 | $76,780 |
| 12 | Ohio | 796 | $70,699 |
| 13 | Arizona | 695 | $81,594 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 694 | $85,251 |
| 15 | Colorado | 683 | $71,498 |
| 16 | Michigan | 612 | $75,242 |
| 17 | Minnesota | 562 | $80,230 |
| 18 | Washington | 531 | $93,453 |
| 19 | Indiana | 505 | $76,127 |
| 20 | Missouri | 463 | $75,317 |
| 21 | Alabama | 438 | $74,720 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 418 | $75,077 |
| 23 | Tennessee | 410 | $66,625 |
| 24 | Oregon | 373 | $79,547 |
| 25 | Connecticut | 338 | $83,876 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 302 | $69,197 |
| 27 | Utah | 299 | $73,286 |
| 28 | Kansas | 293 | $72,821 |
| 29 | Kentucky | 286 | $68,781 |
| 30 | Iowa | 286 | $66,293 |
| 31 | Louisiana | 241 | $66,302 |
| 32 | Nevada | 220 | $86,310 |
| 33 | New Mexico | 212 | $68,868 |
| 34 | Nebraska | 211 | $70,369 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | 207 | $74,827 |
| 36 | Mississippi | 191 | $69,627 |
| 37 | Arkansas | 190 | $71,193 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | 179 | $89,699 |
| 39 | Hawaii | 162 | $66,395 |
| 40 | Idaho | 160 | $68,210 |
| 41 | Montana | 137 | $64,482 |
| 42 | Delaware | 121 | $77,577 |
| 43 | Alaska | 121 | $68,266 |
| 44 | North Dakota | 117 | $66,092 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 111 | $70,340 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 106 | $67,669 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 105 | $69,710 |
| 48 | Maine | 89 | $70,223 |
| 49 | Vermont | 87 | $72,667 |
| 50 | Wyoming | 74 | $67,618 |
Top Colleges for Computer Analysts
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
6. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
7. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
Top Skills For a Computer Analyst
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 7.6% of computer analysts listed computer system on their resume, but soft skills such as creativity and analytical skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Computer Analyst Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Computer Analyst templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Computer Analyst resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Computer Analyst Demographics
Computer Analyst Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among computer analysts, 28.6% of them are women, while 71.4% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among computer analysts is White, which makes up 62.9% of all computer analysts.
- The most common foreign language among computer analysts is Spanish at 51.4%.
Work Experience Programs For Computer Analysts
Virtual work experience programs replicate work at top companies and help you gain the skills to be successful when applying and working there. In only a few hours, learn the relevant tools necessary to complete a typical work day at that company. Virtual work experience programs are 100% free, open-access, and self-paced. No experience or application is required!
Online Courses For Computer Analyst That You May Like
This course provides foundational understanding of how computers process information through hardware and software. You will investigate the world of Information Technology (IT) and survey hardware components, mobile devices, operating systems, programs and apps, network fundamentals, the Internet, and touch on security and ethics...
This course is designed to provide a full overview of computer networking. We’ll cover everything from the fundamentals of modern networking technologies and protocols to an overview of the cloud to practical applications and network troubleshooting. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to: ● describe computer networks in terms of a five-layer model ● understand all of the standard protocols involved with TCP/IP communications ● grasp powerful network troubleshooting tools and techniques ●...
Gain the job-ready skills for an entry-level data analyst role through this Professional Certificate from IBM and position yourself competitively in the thriving job market for data analysts, which will see a 20% growth until 2028 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).\n\nPower your data analyst career by learning the core principles of data analysis and gaining hands-on skills practice. You’ll work with a variety of data sources, project scenarios, and data analysis tools, including Excel, SQL,...
Best States For a Computer Analyst
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a computer analyst. The best states for people in this position are Washington, New Hampshire, California, and Nevada. Computer analysts make the most in Washington with an average salary of $93,453. Whereas in New Hampshire and California, they would average $89,699 and $87,864, respectively. While computer analysts would only make an average of $86,310 in Nevada, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. New Hampshire
$89,699
Avg. Salary
2. Nevada
$86,310
Avg. Salary
3. Arizona
$81,594
Avg. Salary
How Do Computer Analyst Rate Their Jobs?
Top Computer Analyst Employers
Most Common Employers For Computer Analyst
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boeing | $98,326 | $47.27 | 16 |
| 2 | DXC Technology | $90,449 | $43.49 | 15 |
| 3 | IBM | $87,325 | $41.98 | 30 |
| 4 | Lockheed Martin | $86,848 | $41.75 | 26 |
| 5 | Northrop Grumman | $85,693 | $41.20 | 38 |
| 6 | Oracle | $84,620 | $40.68 | 9 |
| 7 | Computer Science Corporation | $83,196 | $40.00 | 12 |
| 8 | Tech Mahindra | $81,540 | $39.20 | 329 |
| 9 | EMC | $79,121 | $38.04 | 23 |
| 10 | Kaiser Permanente | $76,903 | $36.97 | 9 |
Computer Analyst Videos
