How much does a computer specialist make?

In the US, pay can change with experience and education, where you work, and which industry hires you. This catch-all includes many specialties, and some employers require extra certificates for security jobs.

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), “Special Effects Artists and Animators” (27-1014), “Graphic Designers” (27-1024), “Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars” (29-9021), and “Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers” (49-2011).

What's a typical day like?

This broad job group has many kinds of specialists, so days differ. An IT project manager might meet the team, solve problems, update the schedule, and check that work meets deadlines and quality goals.

Routes vary by specialty. For IT project management, a college degree and considerable related experience are common, though some jobs differ; penetration testing also has registered apprenticeship options.

Some computer specialists are penetration testers: they launch simulated cyberattacks on purpose to find weaknesses in computer systems.

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.