Information Employment and Wages in 2024

In 2024, the Information industry employed over 2.9 million people in the United States, reflecting a decrease of 4.1% from 2023. The annual mean wage in 2024 was $112,770, and the median wage was $92,030. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were higher by 66%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Software Publishers held the largest number of jobs within the Information industry, employing over 639 thousand people in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $137,760, with a median wage of $127,470. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 104.8% to 102.8%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Telecommunications accounted for a substantial employment share, with 624 thousand people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $87,960, and the median wage was $78,330. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 29.1% to 29.5%.

The sub-group of Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 485 thousand people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $122,480 and the median wage was $105,540. The wage variance to the national average experienced an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 77.5% to 80.3%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Information industry, we find that Computer and Information Systems Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2024, at $209,630, and a median wage of $196,060. The industry variance to the national average was 11.5%. General and Operations Managers had an annual mean wage of $167,430 and a median wage of $134,350. The industry variance to the national average was 25.8%. Software Developers had an annual mean wage of $165,160 and a median wage of $161,640. The industry variance to the national average was 14.2%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Information industry included Customer Service Representatives, with an annual mean wage of $54,870 and a median wage of $47,900. The industry variance to the national average was 20.9%. Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers had an annual mean wage of $68,490 and a median wage of $64,320. The industry variance to the national average was 2.8%. Computer User Support Specialists had an annual mean wage of $70,140 and a median wage of $63,080. The industry variance to the national average was 7.9%.

Summary

In 2024, the Information industry employed over 2.9 million people in the U.S., marking a 4.1% decline from 2023. Despite shrinking employment, it remained one of the nation’s highest-paying sectors, with an annual mean wage of $112,770 and median wage of $92,030—66% above the national average. The largest sub-sector, Software Publishers, offered exceptionally high wages, though its pay advantage slightly narrowed compared to national trends. Telecommunications and Computing Infrastructure/Data Processing also accounted for significant employment, both maintaining strong wage premiums. At the occupational level, Computer and Information Systems Managers topped earnings at over $209,000 annually, followed closely by General and Operations Managers and Software Developers, all well above national norms. Lower-paying roles within the industry, such as Customer Service Representatives and Telecommunications Equipment Installers, still earned more than their national counterparts, underscoring the sector’s overall high-wage profile despite varying pay scales across roles.