Career Outlook

"Keeping a computer network running smoothly is essential to almost every organization," reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in explaining the increasing demand for IT managers. "New applications of technology in the workplace will continue to drive demand for workers, fueling the need for more managers." As companies increasingly look to technology to drive their revenues, demand will rise for managers with specialized technical knowledge, strong communications skills, and an understanding of business practices - a combination of abilities fostered in the Master of Science in Computer Information Systems program.

But while demand for skilled managers is rising, the talent pool is shrinking. Robert Half Technology reports that an earlier downturn in the technology sector led to a scarcity of technical workers in the United States and a declining number of college graduates heading into IT. That supply will be further reduced by a surge in the number of Baby Boomers headed into retirement. The BLS forecasts 16 percent growth in employment overall for computer and information systems managers from 2006 to 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. Median annual earnings of IT managers in May 2006 stood at $101,580.

Managers with expertise in one of the four MSCIS specialties can expect to see even higher increases in employment: 29 percent for database administrators, 53 percent increase for network systems and data communications analysts, and 38 percent for computer systems design. The BLS forecasts high demand for managers proficient in computer security issues, and the Robert Half technology salary guide for 2007 lists a salary range of $97,500-$141,00 for chief security officers. More information about salaries and professional opportunities is posted by the Association of Information Technology Professionals, the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society, and the Software & Information Industry Association.