Computer Systems Analysts
Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Most important skills
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Systems Analysis
- Systems Evaluation
- Active Learning
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and Technology
What the work involves
- Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer-related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.
- Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
- Use object-oriented programming languages, as well as client and server applications development processes and multimedia and Internet technology.
- Confer with clients regarding the nature of the information processing or computation needs a computer program is to address.
- Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility so that information can be shared.
- Consult with management to ensure agreement on system principles.
- Expand or modify system to serve new purposes or improve work flow.
- Determine computer software or hardware needed to set up or alter systems.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree (50.7% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (30.8%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (29.8%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Computer Systems Analysts is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Moderate | Higher on contact with others than 58% of occupations compared | 73% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Low | Lower on dealing with the public than 72% of occupations compared | 44% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important” |
| Teamwork | Moderate | Higher on teamwork than 56% of occupations compared | 63% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Moderate | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 57% of occupations compared | 58% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom” |
| Time pressure | High | Higher on time pressure than 74% of occupations compared | 50% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Very low | Lower on conflict situations than 81% of occupations compared | 34% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 71% of occupations compared | 66% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Moderate | Higher on consequence of error than 51% of occupations compared | 43% of surveyed respondents chose “Serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: high
- Conflict situations: very low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
- Consequence of error: moderate
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 10.94%
- Contact with others about half the time: 2.23%
- Contact with others most of the time: 14.15%
- Constant contact with others: 72.68%
n = 24, Incumbent 08/2023
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 34.23%
- Fairly important: 11.65%
- Important: 0%
- Very important: 43.89%
- Extremely important: 10.23%
n = 23, Incumbent 08/2023
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 14.16%
- Important: 0.07%
- Very important: 22.36%
- Extremely important: 63.4%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2023
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 5.2%
- Limited freedom: 2.81%
- Some freedom: 58.46%
- A lot of freedom: 33.53%
n = 24, Incumbent 08/2023
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 1.59%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 14.25%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 49.7%
- Every day: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
n = 23, Incumbent 08/2023
Conflict situations
- Never: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a year or more but not every month: 34.43%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 19.3%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 21.06%
- Every day: 0%
n = 24, Incumbent 08/2023
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 3.07%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 66.48%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 15.98%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 14.47%
- Every day: 0%
n = 21, Incumbent 08/2023
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 0.55%
- Fairly serious: 32.43%
- Serious: 42.79%
- Very serious: 15.94%
- Extremely serious: 8.28%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2023
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O*NET-SOC 15-1211.00 · SOC 15-1211 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8