Computer Systems Design Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average computer systems design services business in the United States generates $4.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 47,812 computer systems design services businesses in the U.S., employing 830,910 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $137K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Computer Systems Design Business Actually Do?
Firms providing IT services — custom software development, IT infrastructure, managed services (MSP), cybersecurity, cloud consulting, and systems integration.
Who buys: Businesses building custom software or outsourcing their IT.
Average Revenue
$4.2M
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$242K
per year
Total Businesses
47,812
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$925K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$137K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
14.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Computer Systems Design Services Charge?
IT services and software consulting firms charge hourly or on retainer.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
IT support hourly rate | $100–200/hour |
Software dev hourly rate | $100–300/hour |
Managed services (MSP) monthly | $75–200 per endpoint/month |
Custom project | $25,000–500,000+ |
Retainer (SMB) | $1,500–10,000/month |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete computer systems design business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a computer systems design services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the computer systems design services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Client-related expenses | $4 | $177K | Software licenses, subscriptions, printing, filing fees, travel billed to clients. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $2.1M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $236K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $177K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $14 | $589K | Professional liability insurance, continuing education, tech, admin support. |
Net profit | $22 | $925K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
14.38%
openings/year
Closure Rate
13.25%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.02%
annual
Businesses Closed
12,731
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Computer Systems Design Business?
Startup Cost
$5K – $50K
Break-Even
0 months
5-Year Survival Rate
63.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a computer systems design services business do?
- Firms providing IT services — custom software development, IT infrastructure, managed services (MSP), cybersecurity, cloud consulting, and systems integration. Businesses building custom software or outsourcing their IT.
- How much do computer systems design services charge?
- IT services and software consulting firms charge hourly or on retainer. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average computer systems design services make per year?
- The average computer systems design services business generates $4.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $925K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many computer systems design services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 47,812 computer systems design services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 830,910 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a computer systems design services business?
- Startup costs for a computer systems design services business typically range from $5K to $50K, with a 5-year survival rate of 63.0%.
- What is the average salary in the computer systems design services industry?
- The average employee in the computer systems design services industry earns $137K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The computer systems design services industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.0%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 14.4% and 13.3% respectively.
Approximately 49% of computer systems design services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 12,731 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the computer systems design services industry earns $137,304/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 173,416 establishments employing 1,140,714 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The computer systems design services industry has grown 45% since 2000 (from 73,182 to 106,280 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Computer Systems Design Services revenue with other industries: