Information Systems Manager Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - April 15, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Information Systems Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Information Systems Managers.

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Job Duties

Information systems (IS) managers head the IT department. They must be good team managers, ensuring that the entire department is productive and efficient. Additionally, they make sure that all applications run smoothly and the modifications are implemented in the right way. They are strategic managers, creating plans for the entire team and even organization. They are responsible for the evaluation, choosing, implementation, and management of specific desktop and network technologies. Hence, they must be well-versed in information security topics, such as encryption, antivirus protection, firewalls, network management, and mobile device management as well. Additionally, they must understand how databases and workstations work, providing troubleshooting support whenever required.

Travel is sometimes required for IS managers. They may also have to work unsociable hours, particularly when large updates or new installations have to be completed. Furthermore, they are often on call so that any sudden IT issues can be resolved as they happen.

Other job duties of information systems managers are:

  • To hold HR responsibility for non-management IT staff, hiring them, supervising them, and training them
  • To implement and deploy new IS systems in order to meet the needs of the business and to support users on this
  • To hold management responsibilities for the daily activities of the IS team

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 367,600 computer and information systems managers in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals are:

  • Computer systems design and related services: 22%
  • Information: 11%
  • Finance and insurance: 11%
  • Management of companies and enterprises: 10%
  • Manufacturing: 8%

How to Become

IS managers will usually be required to hold a bachelor’s degree at a minimum, with a technical subject. Many companies now prefer master’s degrees, however. They must also be experienced in the supervision of staff and engineers, and those who do not have a graduate degree are usually expected to have many years’ experience in this if they are to obtain a job. They must be strong critical thinkers and excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Furthermore, they have to be able to operate well under stress, resolving complex problems in an easy to understand manner.

They can be found in any element of the economy. As a result, they often also have additional certifications in fields related to their particular niche or industry. This is generally not a legal requirement, but it does increase job prospects and it demonstrates a commitment to excellence.

Education Requirements

Normally, information systems managers have a bachelor’s degree in a field relating to computer science as a minimum. This is particularly required if their programs focus on computer programs, which is usually the case. Knowledge of Management Information Systems (MIS) is particularly important.

Furthermore, a graduate degree is now commonly required, such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. The MBA requires professional experience, which often enhances the career prospects of the information systems manager. Indeed, professional experience is incredibly important, with the most senior information systems managers having as much as ten years experience in the field, although this does vary depending on the size and age of the organization.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective information systems managers have the following traits to some degree or other:

– Strong analytical skills
– Excellent business skills
– Great communication skills, both verbal and written
– Strong decision making skills
– Excellent leadership skills
– Great organizational skills

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s but master’s preferred Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Information Systems Manager was $85,684. This number is estimated from over 514,736 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $44.63 and monthly of $7,140.

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$21,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Information Systems Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, New Jersey had the largest quoted salary of $132,493 while Utah had the smallest quoted salary of $30,048.

AlaskaKansasNevada
AlabamaKentuckyNew York
ArkansasLouisianaOhio
ArizonaMassachusettsOregon
CaliforniaMarylandPennsylvania
ColoradoMaineRhode Island
ConnecticutMichiganSouth Carolina
DCMinnesotaTennessee
FloridaMissouriTexas
GeorgiaMontanaUtah
HawaiiNorth CarolinaVirginia
IowaNebraskaWashington
IllinoisNew JerseyWisconsin
Alaska – $56,292Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Workplace Alaska.

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$2,300

$7,100

Salary Distribution
Alabama – $76,225Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$15,000

$186,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $57,970Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Arkansas Department Of Human Services and Walmart.

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$14,000

$141,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $64,970Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Maricopa Community Colleges, Maricopa County Community College District, Progilisys Solutions LLC, and Pima Community College.

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$14,000

$151,000

Salary Distribution
California – $99,625Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, Apple, North Orange County Community College District, and Amgen.

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$28,000

$215,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $82,601Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SRL TotalSource LLC, State of Colorado, University of Colorado, and Red Rocks Community College.

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$24,000

$175,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $82,223Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clinical Management Consultants, Naugatuck Valley Community College, and SRL TotalSource LLC.

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$21,000

$183,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $100,505Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, U.S. Government, StaffMe.net, LLC, and Legislative Branch.

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$32,000

$207,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $77,089Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Robert Half Technology, VetReady, and Miami Dade College.

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$19,000

$172,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $79,730Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TEKsystems, U.S. Army, and Protege Hunters.

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$21,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $61,285Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like U.S. Army.

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$14,000

$146,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $76,970Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like City of Iowa City and U.S. Government.

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$19,000

$172,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $84,085Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Request Technology, Oakton Community College, SRL TotalSource LLC, and Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

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$23,000

$181,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $77,275Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Personnel Services, Inc..

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$20,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $70,502Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Louisville Metro Government.

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$18,000

$157,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $32,988Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State of Louisiana and Lafayette General Medical Center.

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$1,200

$6,700

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $87,045Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and Middlesex Community College.

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$23,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $95,476Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Security Agency, Carday Associates, CyberCoders, and WSSC.

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$26,000

$206,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $33,580Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Home Care for Maine.

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$7.25

$34.10

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $72,113Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Gratiot County Community Mental Health, Gables Search Group, and City of Grand Rapids, MI.

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$18,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $83,397Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Land OLakes, Inc., State of Minnesota, and First tek.

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$27,000

$169,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $74,570Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RT, State of Missouri, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, and St. Louis Community College.

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$16,000

$174,000

Salary Distribution
Montana – $53,153Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State of Montana.

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$26,000

$89,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $85,228Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Wake County Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Army.

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$26,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $81,664Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology.

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$39,000

$138,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $132,493Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Execujobs, Laguna Source, ExeSearchUsa, and Logic Planet.

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$53,000

$246,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $74,098Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like City of Elko.

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$30,000

$136,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $90,365Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Marcum Search LLC, Information Technology Services, Office of, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and spar information systems.

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$24,000

$197,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $73,442Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Shared Resource Technology Group, Velocity the Greatest Phone Company Ever, Inc, Velocity, and The Ohio Educational Credit Union.

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$18,000

$166,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $82,684Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clinical Management Consultants, CMC Limited, State of Oregon, and Portland Community College.

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$26,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $88,492Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Select Source International Pvt Ltd, Interactive Broadband Consulting Group, LLC, and Lighthouse Recruiting.

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$19,000

$209,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $99,783Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Gina’s Tech Jobs.

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$37,000

$191,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $75,092Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Revolution Technologies, Medical University of South Carolina, and University of South Carolina.

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$24,000

$154,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $78,775Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology.

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$18,000

$182,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $82,548Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Momentum Search Partners, VIP STAFFING, CyberCoders, and U.S. Army.

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$19,000

$189,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $30,048Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Intermountain Home Care and Intermountain Healthcare.

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$7.25

$34.30

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $84,510Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, U.S. Army, University of Virginia, and SRL TotalSource LLC.

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$23,000

$184,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $79,968Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Department of Veterans Affairs, Columbia County Health System, Community Colleges Of Spokane, and ConsultNet.

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$20,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $82,200Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like BLUE SKY and fulltimeGiGS.

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$41,000

$128,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Information Systems Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
Execujobs Information Systems ManagerNew Jersey$180,000
Laguna Source Information Systems ManagerNew Jersey$175,000
ExeSearchUsa Information Systems ManagerNew Jersey$165,000
Interactive Broadband Consulting Group, LLC Information Systems ManagerPennsylvania$158,216
CyberCoders Information Systems ManagerMaryland$150,612
Etsy, Inc. Information Systems ManagerNew York$149,824
Logic Planet Information Systems ManagerNew Jersey$147,389
NTT DATA Services Information Systems ManagerTexas$146,764
Legislative Branch Information Systems ManagerDC$146,373
COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA Information Systems ManagerCalifornia$143,994
Apple Information Systems ManagerCalifornia$141,283
North Orange County Community College District Information Systems ManagerCalifornia$141,248
Amgen Information Systems ManagerCalifornia$139,522
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Information Systems ManagerDC$132,381
Los Angeles County Information Systems ManagerCalifornia$131,027
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA Information Systems ManagerCalifornia$130,721
SCSBDG, LLC Information Systems ManagerFlorida$127,919
Gilead Sciences Information Systems ManagerCalifornia$127,870

Learn More

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Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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