An official website of the United States government
All computer occupations not listed separately. Excludes "Computer and Information Systems Managers" (11-3021), "Computer Hardware Engineers" (17-2061), "Electrical and Electronics Engineers" (17-2070), "Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary" (25-1021), "Multimedia Artists and Animators" (27-1014), "Graphic Designers" (27-1024), "Computer Operators" (43-9011), and "Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairs" (49-2011).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 381,380 | 0.9 % | $44.88 | $93,350 | 0.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $22.77 | $31.93 | $43.40 | $56.28 | $69.62 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $47,350 | $66,410 | $90,270 | $117,070 | $144,820 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 84,630 | 4.04 | $46.96 | $97,670 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 74,150 | 3.70 | $48.69 | $101,280 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 20,150 | 0.85 | $45.26 | $94,140 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 17,250 | 1.20 | $43.53 | $90,540 |
| Software Publishers | 12,690 | 3.22 | $45.88 | $95,420 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 84,630 | 4.04 | $46.96 | $97,670 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 74,150 | 3.70 | $48.69 | $101,280 |
| Software Publishers | 12,690 | 3.22 | $45.88 | $95,420 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | 9,490 | 2.98 | $45.52 | $94,690 |
| Other Information Services | 4,930 | 1.67 | $45.91 | $95,500 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 400 | 0.28 | $53.93 | $112,170 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 240 | 0.17 | $53.18 | $110,610 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 370 | 0.34 | $51.85 | $107,840 |
| Telecommunications | 7,410 | 0.98 | $51.22 | $106,530 |
| Rail Transportation | 890 | 0.38 | $50.72 | $105,500 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 74,690 | 4.39 | 1.67 | $49.65 | $103,270 |
| Texas | 25,620 | 2.11 | 0.80 | $43.41 | $90,290 |
| Georgia | 21,500 | 4.89 | 1.86 | $43.34 | $90,140 |
| Pennsylvania | 19,010 | 3.25 | 1.23 | $41.84 | $87,040 |
| District of Columbia | 18,040 | 25.33 | 9.61 | $56.51 | $117,540 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 18,040 | 25.33 | 9.61 | $56.51 | $117,540 |
| Colorado | 16,440 | 6.27 | 2.38 | $49.27 | $102,470 |
| Maryland | 13,720 | 5.11 | 1.94 | $54.49 | $113,330 |
| Georgia | 21,500 | 4.89 | 1.86 | $43.34 | $90,140 |
| Utah | 6,470 | 4.44 | 1.69 | $36.97 | $76,890 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 18,040 | 25.33 | 9.61 | $56.51 | $117,540 |
| Maryland | 13,720 | 5.11 | 1.94 | $54.49 | $113,330 |
| New Hampshire | 1,010 | 1.55 | 0.59 | $54.06 | $112,440 |
| Virginia | 14,580 | 3.80 | 1.44 | $50.61 | $105,270 |
| California | 74,690 | 4.39 | 1.67 | $49.65 | $103,270 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 34,980 | 11.16 | 4.23 | $55.70 | $115,850 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 21,320 | 3.48 | 1.32 | $41.81 | $86,950 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 19,480 | 8.05 | 3.06 | $54.70 | $113,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 17,270 | 6.44 | 2.44 | $44.66 | $92,890 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 13,280 | 2.86 | 1.09 | (8) | (8) |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 12,580 | 11.24 | 4.27 | $65.64 | $136,530 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 11,120 | 3.12 | 1.18 | $46.38 | $96,470 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 11,000 | 7.44 | 2.82 | $50.98 | $106,040 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 10,600 | 5.34 | 2.03 | $45.29 | $94,210 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 10,460 | 3.67 | 1.39 | $44.70 | $92,970 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 550 | 17.04 | 6.47 | $47.97 | $99,780 |
| Hinesville, GA | 210 | 11.64 | 4.42 | $37.95 | $78,930 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 12,580 | 11.24 | 4.27 | $65.64 | $136,530 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 34,980 | 11.16 | 4.23 | $55.70 | $115,850 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,890 | 10.38 | 3.94 | $48.74 | $101,380 |
| Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY | 530 | 9.76 | 3.70 | $41.67 | $86,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 19,480 | 8.05 | 3.06 | $54.70 | $113,780 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 2,160 | 7.69 | 2.92 | $44.81 | $93,200 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 11,000 | 7.44 | 2.82 | $50.98 | $106,040 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 630 | 7.10 | 2.69 | $42.36 | $88,110 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 12,580 | 11.24 | 4.27 | $65.64 | $136,530 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 510 | 5.40 | 2.05 | $55.99 | $116,450 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 34,980 | 11.16 | 4.23 | $55.70 | $115,850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 19,480 | 8.05 | 3.06 | $54.70 | $113,780 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 840 | 1.43 | 0.54 | $54.46 | $113,270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 6,240 | 4.55 | 1.73 | $52.68 | $109,580 |
| Salinas, CA | 550 | 3.05 | 1.16 | $52.10 | $108,360 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 11,000 | 7.44 | 2.82 | $50.98 | $106,040 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 410 | 3.95 | 1.50 | $50.60 | $105,250 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 40 | 0.24 | 0.09 | $49.53 | $103,020 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 330 | 2.37 | 0.90 | $31.77 | $66,070 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 6.33 | 2.40 | $51.14 | $106,370 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 1.77 | 0.67 | $31.99 | $66,540 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 1.01 | 0.38 | $24.72 | $51,430 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 1.02 | 0.39 | $38.46 | $79,990 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 6.33 | 2.40 | $51.14 | $106,370 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | 200 | 3.01 | 1.14 | $19.41 | $40,380 |
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | 200 | 2.94 | 1.12 | $23.25 | $48,370 |
| Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 2.45 | 0.93 | $31.79 | $66,110 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 330 | 2.37 | 0.90 | $31.77 | $66,070 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 1.37 | 0.52 | $54.50 | $113,350 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 6.33 | 2.40 | $51.14 | $106,370 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $48.86 | $101,620 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.43 | 0.54 | $47.25 | $98,280 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.95 | 0.36 | $46.78 | $97,300 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2018 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2019