The national median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $97,430 in May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, this median salary is $51,670 greater than all other occupations. Your salary will depend on several factors, including your position, experience, and education. But in general, salaries for applied computing graduates are high across the country due to the widespread demand for qualified IT applicants.
Which Applied Computing Jobs Have the Highest Salaries?
Your applied computing salary will depend greatly on your position. See the list below for job titles, median salaries, and projected growth, according to data from the BLS. With an applied computing bachelor’s degree, you will qualify for each of these positions:
| Rank | Job Title | Median Salary | 2020-2030 Projected Growth |
| 1 | Computer Network Architect | $120,520 | 5 percent |
| 2 | Software Developer | $110,140 | 22 percent |
| 3 | Information Security Analyst | $102,600 | 33 percent |
| 4 | Computer Systems Analyst | $99,270 | 7 percent |
| 5 | Database Administrator and Architect | $98,860 | 8 percent |
| 6 | Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $80,600 | 5 percent |
| 7 | Web Developer and Digital Designer | $77,200 | 13 percent |
One of the Highest-Paid Majors
Regardless of which college degree salary report you read, applied computing is near the top of the list. NACE’s 2022 Salary Survey states that computer occupations have the highest-paying job positions at the bachelor’s degree level, with an average salary projection of $74,628.
Payscale’s 2021 College Salary Report listed that computer science graduates earned an average early career salary of $75,100 and a mid-career salary of $123,400.
When It Comes to IT Salary, Education Matters
According to salary data from the BLS, earning a bachelor’s degree leads to higher pay for computer and IT positions compared to associate degrees.
Average Salary for IT Positions Requiring a Bachelor’s Degree—$90,146
Average Salary for IT Positions Requiring an Associate Degree—$69,430
With the right education, you could be making an average of $20,000 more a year.
What’s Next?
Discover
The Universities of Wisconsin offers an online, 61-credit Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing degree completion program. Start your journey.
Explore
Curious about what you’ll learn in UW Applied Computing courses? See the curriculum.
Ask
Have questions about University of Wisconsin Applied Computing? Contact an adviser at 608-262-2011 or learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.