Online IT Programs in San Francisco (2027)

Key Points

Information Technology, MS at University of the People tops the San Francisco picks.
San Francisco network and systems administrators earn $129,680, 31% above the $99,130 U.S. median.
San Francisco help desk jobs pay a $89,440 median, and 10,770 people hold them.
San Francisco's largest tracked IT jobs are IT managers (23,830), computer systems analysts (11,180) and help desk technicians (10,770).

Online IT Programs in San Francisco: Best Picks From California

These picks fit the jobs San Francisco hires for, drawn from California.

Each card’s badge is its place in our national ranking. How we rank.

No.1 #32of 37 in IT master’s
University of the People

Information Technology, MS
- Pasadena, CA
- Private nonprofit
- Fully online
- Master’s
San Francisco's IT managers earn $155,660 to $335,770. 34% graduation rate.

Program cost

$5,940the school’s estimated total

Visit UoPeople’s MS in Information Technology Compare
No.2 #27of 57 in IT bachelor’s
California Baptist University

Computer Information Technology, BS
- Riverside, CA
- Private nonprofit
- Fully online
- Bachelor’s
San Francisco's computer systems analysts earn $91,480 to $209,150. Prepares for CompTIA certificates (incl. Cloud+ aligned course).

Online tuition

$541 per credit

Visit Cal Baptist’s BS in Computer IT Compare

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has none of California’s five ranked programs.

See every online IT program in California, plus the state’s job projections, led by security analysts at 29.1% through 2034.

Tuition Discounts for San Francisco Residents

San Francisco residents can also ask about WUE.

How exchanges work in California.

IT Jobs and Salaries in San Francisco

San Francisco’s best-paid IT role: IT managers, at $232,890; San Francisco’s lowest is $89,440, for help desk technicians. San Francisco’s largest IT group: 23,830 IT managers.

Role	Median pay	vs California	Typical range	Jobs	Entry education	Salary guide
IT Manager	$232,890	+7%	$155,660 to $335,770	23,830	Bachelor's degree	Salary guide
Network Engineer	$166,760	+5%	$121,160 to $242,150	3,350	Bachelor's degree	Salary guide
Information Security Analyst	$162,310	+17%	$61,860 to $246,070	3,730	Bachelor's degree	Salary guide
Web Developer	$152,450	+27%	$80,190 to $216,060	1,420	Bachelor's degree	Salary guide
Computer Systems Analyst	$134,460	+5%	$91,480 to $209,150	11,180	Bachelor's degree	Salary guide
Network and Computer Systems Administrator	$129,680	+22%	$82,760 to $193,250	3,910	Bachelor's degree	Salary guide
Database Administrator	$127,760	+13%	$66,750 to $210,810	1,470	Bachelor's degree	Salary guide
Network Support Specialist	$101,600	+28%	$65,070 to $172,060	2,370	Associate's degree	Salary guide
Help Desk Technician	$89,440	+12%	$58,910 to $130,440	10,770	Some college, no degree	Salary guide

Median and percentile pay and local employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (Sources; BLS OEWS). Typical entry education: BLS Employment Projections. The range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

Against California medians, the biggest San Francisco premium: network support specialists at $101,600 (+28%). Smallest edge in San Francisco: computer systems analysts, at $134,460 (+5%). 9 of 9 San Francisco roles out-earn the California median.

Next in San Francisco: computer systems analysts (11,180 jobs, $134,460) and network and computer systems administrators (3,910 jobs, $129,680). In San Francisco, bachelor’s-level roles are 79% of IT jobs; San Francisco students can compare online IT bachelor’s degrees. Below a bachelor’s in San Francisco: help desk technicians (10,770 jobs, $89,440) and network support specialists (2,370 jobs, $101,600). For those San Francisco roles, see online IT associate degrees.

Price level: BEA, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area (MARPP), all items, 2024; 100 is the U.S. average.

IT Job Concentration in San Francisco

San Francisco ranks 6th among U.S. metros for computer jobs, with 156,010. San Francisco is lightest on network and systems administrators (0.81x) and help desk technicians (0.98x the U.S. share). San Francisco's signature IT job: 23,830 IT managers, 2.33 times the U.S. share.

Cybersecurity Jobs in San Francisco

Compare online cybersecurity degrees or read the security analyst salary guide.

Tech Jobs in San Francisco: The Industries Behind Them

San Francisco computer systems design firms employ 85,520 people at 5,029 locations, averaging $178,839.

Industry employment, establishments and payroll: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, by metropolitan area. Average pay is annual payroll divided by employment.

How to Choose an Online IT Program in San Francisco

San Francisco’s largest IT group is IT managers.

Our guide to choosing by city covers cost, residency, authorization and accreditation.

Online IT Programs in Other Cities

Online IT Programs in San Francisco FAQ

Are there online IT programs based in San Francisco?

Not in our rankings. No school with a main campus in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area runs a fully online IT program we list. Our picks for San Francisco are the Information Technology, MS at University of the People and the Computer Information Technology, BS at California Baptist University.

Which IT job in San Francisco differs most from the state's pay?

In San Francisco, network support specialists earn $101,600, well above California's $79,190.

Which IT job in San Francisco has the widest pay range?

San Francisco's widest pay spread: information security analysts, $61,860 to $246,070.

Which IT jobs are common in San Francisco?

San Francisco runs heavy in computer systems analysts (1.41x), database administrators (1.37x) and web developers (1.33x the U.S. share).

Keep researching

Best Online IT Programs in San Francisco (2027)