IT Salaries: Great Pay for Your Hard Work

There were 565,700 computer support specialists in 2008, but that number should rise to 643,700 by 2018, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. The median annual salary for computer support specialists was $43,450 in May 2008, but the highest 10 percent earned more than $70,750.

The industries that employ the greatest number of computer support specialists are the following:

• Computer Systems Design – 102,410
• Elementary and Secondary Schools – 30,520
• Company Management – 29,940
• Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools – 25,160

But if you want to earn the highest IT salaries, the following industries paid the highest average annual wages:

• Banks – $71,270
• Natural Gas Pipeline Companies – $68,710
• Natural Gas Distribution – $63,690
• Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing – $61,780

The states with the highest IT salaries for computer support specialists? 

There were 1,336,300 computer software engineers and computer programmers in 2008, but that number should increase by 21 percent by 2018. The median IT salary for computer programmers was $69,620, but the top 10 percent earned more than $111,000.

The industries that employ the greatest number of computer programmers are the following:

• Computer Systems Design – 129,780
• Software Publishers – 18,150
• Company Management – 17,560
• Employment Services – 14,280
• Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools – 11,640

The industries that pay top IT salaries for computer programmers are: 

• Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing – $106,170
• Securities and Commodity Contracts and Brokerage – $92,550
• Banks – $90,680
• Home Health Care Services – $88,920

And if you want to earn the highest IT salaries for computer programmers, you might consider relocating to one of these high-opportunity states:

There were 339,500 network and computer systems administrators in 2008, but that number is expected to rise a remarkable 23 percent by 2018. Median IT salaries for network and computer systems administrators were $66,310 in May 2008, but the top 10 percent earned more than $104,000.

The industries that employ the greatest number of network and computer systems administrators are the following:

• Computer Systems Design – 48,760
• Company Management – 23,950
• Wired Telecommunications Carriers – 16,080
• Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools – 14,290

The industries that pay top IT salaries for network and computer systems administrators are:

• Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing – $89,840
• Securities and Commodity Exchanges – $89,340
• Banks – $90,680
• Other Investment Pools and Funds – $88,850
• Furniture Related Product Manufacturing – $87,620

And the states with the best IT salaries for network administrators are:

There were 120,400 database administrators in 2008, but the industry should add over 24,000 jobs by 2018. The median salary for database administrators was $69,740 in May 2008, but the top 10 percent earned almost $112,000.

The industries that employ the greatest number of database administrators are:

• Computer Systems Design – 16,500
• Company Management – 8,220
• Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools – 4,580
• Insurance Companies – 4,260

The industries that pay top IT salaries for database administrators are:

• Rail Transportation – $106,460
• Banks– $98,630
• Chemical and Allied Products Wholesalers– $89,560
• Securities and Commodity Contracts and Brokerage – $89,000
• Natural Gas Distribution – $88,920

And the states with the highest IT salaries for database administrators are:

Join the ranks of information technology specialists across the U.S., and earn the kind of IT salaries that you deserve. Find the best computer schools in your area, or log on and take advantage of great online degree options. Your financial future is up to you!

_{Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unless otherwise indicated}