IT Salary Data for Hiring Managers
Use Tier2Tek’s IT salary guide as a starting point for planning your next hire. Compare national wage figures, then consider your location, required skills, and the work your new employee will handle.
Reviewed: October 2026
Wage data: May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
National IT Salary Benchmarks
The table shows national median annual wages. The median is the middle figure: half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less.
These figures cover workers across experience levels. They are not entry-level salaries, starting offers, or recommended pay ranges for every opening.
| BLS Occupation | National Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | $61,860 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 |
| Computer Network Architects | $134,050 |
| Information Security Analysts | $129,180 |
| Software Developers | $135,980 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $175,140 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Select an occupation above to view its source and description.
Match the Data to Your Position
Job titles vary between companies. Compare responsibilities before choosing a salary benchmark.
Help desk, service desk, and desktop support: Computer User Support Specialists is a useful starting category. It does not provide separate figures here for each title or support tier.
Network support and NOC roles: Compare the actual work with Computer Network Support Specialists. A monitoring-focused NOC position may differ from one responsible for complex troubleshooting.
Systems administrators: Use Network and Computer Systems Administrators when the role involves managing networks, servers, and related systems.
Network engineers: Review the scope carefully. Computer Network Architects covers network design and implementation. Its wage figure should not be applied to every network engineering or support opening.
The same principle applies to leadership roles. An IT manager and a director may fall within a broad BLS category while having very different responsibilities.
What Changes an IT Hiring Budget?
A national figure is only a starting point. Consider:
- Location: Review the labor market where the employee will work.
- Experience: Match pay to the level of responsibility and independence required.
- Technical skills: Account for the systems, tools, and specialist knowledge needed.
- Schedule: Consider evening shifts, weekend coverage, travel, and on-call duties.
- Scope: Supporting one office differs from managing systems across several locations.
- Benefits: Consider the full offer, including insurance, paid leave, retirement benefits, and flexibility.
For remote positions, decide which hiring locations and pay policy apply before comparing figures.
How to Set a Pay Range
- Define the work. List the main duties and separate essential skills from preferences.
- Choose the closest occupation. Compare job responsibilities rather than the title alone.
- Check local data. Use state or metropolitan wage figures where available.
- Review comparable openings. Look for similar responsibilities, locations, and experience requirements.
- Set a realistic range. Allow room for differences in relevant experience and the complete compensation package.
Review the range if qualified candidates consistently decline because of pay or if your requirements change.
Sources & How to Read This Guide
The wage figures above come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are national estimates for May 2025, not Tier2Tek placement averages or forecasts of 2026 salaries.
We have kept the BLS occupation names and published median figures. We have not added inflation adjustments or created separate estimates for job titles that BLS groups together.
BLS wages are not total compensation. They exclude employer benefit costs and certain payments, including overtime and nonproduction bonuses.
For details and local wage information, visit:
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