What the numbers say
The median wage for Computer and Information Systems Managers in California was $211,340 in 2024, about 19% above the US median of $177,564. The average was higher at $232,710, which tells us a smaller group of senior managers and executives pull the figure up.
The gap between the 10th and 25th percentile alone runs from $127,220 to $165,060. That $38,000 swing in the lower half of the range shows how much experience and job level matter here, even before you get to the top of the distribution.
California's cost-of-living index sits at 114.8, the second highest in the country. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the state's median lands closer to $184,100 in national-baseline dollars. That still clears the US median by roughly $6,500, but the headline gap of $33,776 narrows considerably. Readers weighing a California offer against one in Texas or Ohio should factor that in.
On the employment side, California hosts about 100,020 people in this role, the largest state-level concentration BLS tracks for the occupation. BLS projects the field to grow 15.2% nationally between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as much faster than average. That figure is a national projection; California's own trajectory will depend on how its tech and finance sectors hold up over the decade.
Salary distribution
Where California computer and information systems managers fall on the wage curve.
Distribution not available
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.
Computer and Information Systems Managers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 1,000 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $240,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 33 | $185,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 110 | $243,200 |
| Level III — experienced | 49 | $250,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 46 | $280,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Computer and Information Systems Managers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | Software Engineering Applications Manager | 86 | $248,643 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Manager III, Software Dev | 51 | $239,889 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Software Engineering Manager | 45 | $280,000 |
| PayPal, Inc. | Manager, Software Engineering | 34 | $237,500 |
| Google LLC | Software Engineer Manager | 28 | $290,500 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | Senior Manager | 26 | $215,141 |
| Salesforce, Inc. | Director Software Engineering | 22 | $276,242 |
| eBay Inc. | Manager, Software Development 2 | 21 | $254,975 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Computer and Information Systems Managers - KBGFJG127737-7 | 21 | $264,672 |
| Intuit Inc. | Manager, Software Engineering | 17 | $232,336 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Manager, Software Engineering at Intuit Inc.$264,527Mountain ViewDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501882
- Data Engineering Manager at Meta Platforms, Inc$248,920Menlo ParkDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-500665
- Engineering Program Manager at Adobe Inc.$230,000San JoseDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503758
- Manager, NA Technology Service Team at Tencent America LLC$199,000Playa VistaDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25357-504396
- Global Database Division Lead at Clearwater Analytics, LLC$256,979Mountain HouseDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503745
- Manager III, Hardware Development at Amazon.com Services LLC$225,800SunnyvaleDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502346
- Chief Engineer, VA MDE at QTC Management, Inc.$217,000Chino HillsDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502177
- Senior Manager, Software Engineering Management at ServiceNow, Inc.$255,213Santa ClaraDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-496569
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Computer and Information Systems Managers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Computer and Information Systems Managers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 669 certified offers. The most common variant is Manager, Software Engineering at a median of $234,233.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager, Software Engineering | Amazon.com Services LLC | 335 | $234,233 |
| Director, Product Management | PayPal, Inc. | 87 | $250,000 |
| Engineering Manager | Google LLC | 54 | $264,000 |
| Product Manager | Meta Platforms, Inc | 46 | $246,578 |
| Software Engineering Manager | Meta Platforms, Inc | 36 | $280,000 |
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Amazon.com Services LLC | 19 | $210,000 |
| VP, Engineering | WSP USA Inc. | 19 | $290,000 |
| Chief Technology Officer | Inception AI, Inc. | 17 | $200,907 |
| Software Engineering Applications Manager | Apple Inc. | 15 | $248,643 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers - KBGFJG127737-7 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 15 | $255,000 |
| Software Engineering Systems Manager | Apple Inc. | 14 | $238,372 |
| Software Development Engineering Manager | Apple Inc. | 12 | $239,937 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Computer and Information Systems Managers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 996 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $248,643.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Meta Platforms, Inc | 524 | $248,643 |
| Manufacturing | Apple Inc. | 156 | $229,472 |
| Professional services | Deloitte Consulting LLP | 116 | $223,344 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 100 | $243,724 |
| Finance and insurance | PayPal, Inc. | 77 | $233,989 |
| Healthcare | Stanford Health Care | 7 | $200,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | T3RA Logistics | 5 | $210,000 |
| Real estate | Perform Properties LLC | 4 | $259,789 |
| Education | The University of Southern California | 3 | $172,058 |
| Energy and utilities | HITACHI ENERGY USA INC. | 2 | $185,604 |
| Media and entertainment | United Talent Agency | 1 | $290,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials | 1 | $145,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.8 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Manage backup, security and user help systems.
- 02
Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
- 03
Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- 04
Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
- 05
Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
- 06
Provide users with technical support for computer problems.
- 07
Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
- 08
Stay abreast of advances in technology.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+15.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for computer and information systems managers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Francisco$221,810
- San Diego$193,370
- Los Angeles$191,410
- Riverside$165,760
- Sacramento$161,710
- San Jose—
Compare Computer and Information Systems Managers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Computer and Information Systems Managers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Computer and Information Systems Managers in California is $211,340.
- How does California compare to the national median for Computer and Information Systems Managers?
- The California median is +19.0% versus the BLS national figure of $177,564.
- Is Computer and Information Systems Managers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 15.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Computer and Information Systems Managers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.