Quick answer: California employs about 94,720 computer and information systems managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through the institution’s accreditor. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare management information systems programs enrolling now:
Licensing and Credentials in California
IT management is not a state-licensed occupation, so no board gates entry. What gates it is experience: the management rung is reached after technical or analyst work rather than directly from a degree program. Institutional accreditation is what to verify, and some business schools additionally hold AACSB accreditation.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with the institution’s accreditor that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 7 schools
within 404 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
7 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
University of San Francisco
📍
San Francisco, CA
•247.8 miles away•BOC Score
70.2
What Computer and Information Systems Managers Earn in California
Computer and Information Systems Managers in California earn a median $218,290 per year, above the national median of $175,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Management Information Systems Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$218,290
$175,140
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$129,970
$107,550
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$170,240
$138,060
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$293,470
$220,730
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$325,970
$297,510
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
94,720
670,570
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.21
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
15.2%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $218,290 sits above the national median of $175,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.21 puts California well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. IT management demand tracks employer headquarters and large back-office operations rather than population, so metros with corporate and government concentrations run well ahead of their size
Computer and Information Systems Managers Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), computer and information systems managers wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
23,830
$232,890
$249,040
$155,660
$335,770
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
23,180
$204,370
$208,290
$125,600
$297,260
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
19,070
$291,660
$319,670
$164,400
$377,060
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
7,250
$206,740
$210,940
$127,840
$304,530
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
4,070
$165,270
$183,690
$126,650
$277,490
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
2,270
$176,320
$184,790
$108,340
$277,230
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
1,070
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
700
$207,760
$208,790
$130,950
$282,620
Fresno
650
$148,650
$160,830
$105,410
$228,200
Bakersfield-Delano
430
$164,470
$171,070
$101,820
$271,190
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
400
$173,840
$181,340
$100,480
$280,130
Stockton-Lodi
390
$165,260
$175,070
$108,790
$265,160
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
260
$198,770
$201,990
$126,980
$306,260
Modesto
230
$159,720
$171,630
$109,450
$261,380
Salinas
200
$167,160
$177,580
$114,450
$272,210
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
200
$167,910
$175,130
$108,330
$268,400
Vallejo
200
$173,790
$190,270
$123,640
$281,040
Visalia
140
$160,790
$163,600
$104,460
$228,490
Chico
120
$137,890
$154,100
$101,030
$216,550
Napa
110
$191,490
$196,640
$124,410
$307,360
Redding
110
$162,220
$169,760
$112,000
$253,420
Merced
80
$167,150
$179,640
$120,270
$275,170
Yuba City
60
$151,750
$164,900
$106,400
$246,260
El Centro
50
$152,360
$154,900
$89,980
$217,390
Hanford-Corcoran
50
$186,340
$191,990
$108,460
$280,880
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do computer and information systems managers make in California?
The median annual wage for computer and information systems managers in California is $218,290, above the national median of $175,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $170,240 at the 25th percentile to $293,470 at the 75th.
How many computer and information systems managers work in California?
California holds about 94,720 information systems manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 670,570, and BLS projects about 55,600 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a information systems manager in California?
IT management is not a state-licensed occupation, so no board gates entry. What gates it is experience: the management rung is reached after technical or analyst work rather than directly from a degree program. Institutional accreditation is what to verify, and some business schools additionally hold AACSB accreditation. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with the institution's accreditor before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a MIS bachelor's online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies the institution's accreditor.
What is the highest-paying area of California for computer and information systems managers?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $291,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for computer and information systems managers?
On pay, the state median of $218,290 sits above the national $175,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.21 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Computer and Information Systems Managers (SOC 11-3021), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
