Computer and Information Systems Managers Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers in California make a median of $218,290 a year, or about $104.95 an hour. The range runs from $130K at the entry level to $326K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $205,662 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $218K get you in California?
About computer and information systems managers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for computer and information systems managers, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $175K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 20.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for computer and information systems managerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level computer and information systems managers (10th percentile) start around $130K. Mid-career wages sit at $218K. Top earners bring in $326K or more, a $196K spread from bottom to top.
Computer and Information Systems Managers salary by metro in California
24 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $292K | +34% | 19,070 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $233K | +7% | 23,830 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $208K | -5% | 700 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $207K | -5% | 7,250 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $204K | -6% | 23,180 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $199K | -9% | 260 |
| Napa | $191K | -12% | 110 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $186K | -15% | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $176K | -19% | 2,270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $174K | -20% | 400 |
| Vallejo | $174K | -20% | 200 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $168K | -23% | 200 |
| Salinas | $167K | -23% | 200 |
| Merced | $167K | -23% | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $165K | -24% | 4,070 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $165K | -24% | 390 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $164K | -25% | 430 |
| Redding | $162K | -26% | 110 |
| Visalia | $161K | -26% | 140 |
| Modesto | $160K | -27% | 230 |
| El Centro | $152K | -30% | 50 |
| Yuba City | $152K | -30% | 60 |
| Fresno | $149K | -32% | 650 |
| Chico | $138K | -37% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 metros
Compare to other states
Track computer and information systems managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer and information systems manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $218K, rent takes 20.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer and information systems managers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer and information systems managers typically earn — is $130K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,798/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer and information systems manager a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $218K here vs. $175K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for computer and information systems managers?
California pays $218K median vs. the U.S. average of $175K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $206K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer and information systems managers make in California?
The median is $218,290 a year, that works out to about $105 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $129,970, and experienced computer and information systems managers can clear $325,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $218K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,124/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 20.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer and information systems managers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer and information systems managers salary is worth about $205,662 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer and information systems managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.