Quick answer
An information systems (MIS) degree leads to jobs as a computer systems analyst, business or data analyst, database administrator, information security analyst, IT project manager and, later, IT manager. BLS reports a median of $103,790 for computer systems analysts and $171,200 for computer and information systems managers (May 2024).
Families often hear "information systems" and "information technology" and assume they are the same thing. They overlap, but MIS is usually housed in the business school. Students take accounting, finance and management alongside databases, networking, security and systems analysis.
That mix is the point. Companies need people who can turn a business problem into a working system and explain it to both sides. Below we cover the jobs, the pay and how MIS compares with related majors. For the more hands-on technical route, see our information technology degree guide.
What Entry-Level Jobs Can You Get With an MIS Degree?
Pay figures are national medians (the middle wage, not the average) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Half of workers earn more and half earn less. Our calculators and Continuum chart use BLS averages (means), which are usually higher, so their numbers may not match these.
1. Computer Systems Analyst
Studies how a company works and designs or improves the systems behind it. BLS: median $103,790 (middle half earns $80,900–$132,360).
2. Business or Management Analyst
Finds ways to make an organization run better, often at a consulting firm. BLS management analysts earn a median $101,190 ($76,770–$133,140).
3. Network and Computer Systems Administrator
Keeps a company's networks and servers running and secure. BLS: median $96,800 ($75,860–$123,390).
4. Database Administrator
Organizes, protects and tunes the databases a business runs on. BLS: median $104,620 ($76,100–$132,850). Database architects, a more senior role, earn a median of $135,980.
5. Information Security Analyst
Protects systems and data from attacks. BLS: median $124,910 ($92,160–$159,600). Many people reach this role after a few years in IT. Our cybersecurity degree guide covers it in depth.
Where Can an Information Systems Career Lead?
MIS graduates who combine technical skill with people skills tend to move into leadership.
6. IT Project Manager
Plans technology projects and keeps them on time and on budget. BLS project management specialists earn a median $100,750 ($76,950–$131,660).
7. Computer and Information Systems Manager
Runs an IT department or a large part of one. BLS: median $171,200 ($134,350–$216,220). Most get there after several years of hands-on work, and some after an MBA.
How Much Do Information Systems Majors Make?
| Career | Median pay | Middle 50% range | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network and computer systems administrator | $96,800 | $75,860–$123,390 | Bachelor's |
| Project management specialist | $100,750 | $76,950–$131,660 | Bachelor's |
| Management analyst | $101,190 | $76,770–$133,140 | Bachelor's |
| Computer systems analyst | $103,790 | $80,900–$132,360 | Bachelor's |
| Database administrator | $104,620 | $76,100–$132,850 | Bachelor's |
| Information security analyst | $124,910 | $92,160–$159,600 | Bachelor's + experience |
| Computer and information systems manager | $171,200 | $134,350–$216,220 | Bachelor's + years of experience |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 national estimates. The middle 50% is the 25th to 75th percentile. Pay varies by state, employer and experience.
What Do Information Systems Majors Study?
Expect the business core (accounting, finance, marketing, management, statistics) plus databases and SQL, programming, networking, systems analysis and design, information security, project management and often data analytics. The math is lighter than computer science. Internships matter a lot: many MIS students get full-time offers from the company where they interned.
Is an Information Systems Degree Worth It?
MajorMatch's Information Systems & Management Loan vs Upside calculator starts from Continuum wages of about $106,000 early-career and $147,000 mid-career. At its default $50,000 loan (6.5% for 10 years), total repayment is about $68,129, against an estimated lifetime earnings gain of about $2,777,719 over a high-school-only path, about 40.8 times the loan cost. It is an illustration, not a promise, and you can change every input.
MIS is one of the stronger business-school majors on pay, and it opens doors in almost every industry. The catch is that entry-level tech hiring goes through cycles, and a student with internships and a few real projects will get hired much faster than one with only a transcript.
How Will AI Affect Information Systems Careers?
MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check (part of the assessment results) estimates what share of a job's tasks AI tools could significantly speed up or automate. It measures exposure, not a forecast of job loss. Information systems as a major scores 60%, and computer systems analysts score 59%. Troubleshooting applications and applying technology to business problems are the most exposed tasks. Gathering what people actually need and making decisions with them stays human. In practice, people in these jobs will use AI tools heavily, so learning to use them well is part of the degree now.
Is Information Systems the Right Major for Your Teen?
MIS fits students who like technology and solving problems but also want to understand how a business works and enjoy working with people. If your teen wants to build software full time, compare computer science. If they love numbers and dashboards, compare business analytics. The free MajorMatch assessment uses our own proprietary scoring method to compare your student's strengths and interests with all 100 majors, including information systems, and shows their top 3 for free. Take the assessment before you commit to a program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with an information systems degree?
Work as a systems analyst, business analyst, database administrator, network administrator, security analyst or IT project manager, and later as an IT manager.
How much do information systems majors make?
BLS reports a median of $103,790 for computer systems analysts and $171,200 for computer and information systems managers (May 2024).
Is information systems a good major?
For students who like both business and technology, yes. Pay is strong and the skills apply in almost every industry.
What is the difference between MIS and IT?
MIS is usually a business-school degree focused on using systems to solve business problems. IT is usually more hands-on with networks, hardware and support. The jobs overlap.
What are entry-level jobs for MIS graduates?
Common first jobs are systems analyst, business analyst, IT consultant, help desk or support analyst, junior database administrator and security analyst trainee.
Will AI replace information systems jobs?
MajorMatch's AI task-exposure estimate for the major is 60%. Routine troubleshooting is most exposed; figuring out what people need and leading projects stays human.