Computer Systems Design Services — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the computer systems design services industry earns $137,304 per year ($66.01/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Computer Systems Design Workers Earn?
At $137,304/year (equivalent to $66.01/hour for a full-time worker), computer systems design services wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.
Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.
The typical computer systems design services business employs 7 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average computer systems design services business generating $4.2M/year with 7 employees at $137,304 each, total payroll represents roughly 22.9% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a computer systems design servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $178,495/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 7 employees = ~$961,128/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $66.01/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $4.2M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Computer Systems Design Services revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do computer systems design services employees make?
- The average computer systems design services employee earns $137,304 per year, which is equivalent to $66.01/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the computer systems design services industry?
- The computer systems design services industry employs 1,140,714 workers across 173,416 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 7 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).