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2027 City Guide

Best Online IT Programs in Pittsburgh (2027)

Online IT programs in Pittsburgh start with one degree at one local school: one master's degree. Pittsburgh pays network and systems administrators $80,440, 19% under the $99,130 U.S. median.

  • 1local program
  • $80,440network and computer systems administrator median
  • 34,640computer jobs

Key Points

  • Information Technology, MS at Carnegie Mellon University leads the Pittsburgh list (#1 of 37 nationally).
  • Pittsburgh's largest tracked IT jobs are IT managers (5,290), help desk technicians (5,270) and computer systems analysts (5,230).
  • Pittsburgh runs heavy in IT managers (1.10x) and help desk technicians (1.03x the U.S. share).
  • Pittsburgh's widest pay spread: IT managers, $100,500 to $224,130.

The Best Online IT Programs in Pittsburgh

Ordered by national standing, Pittsburgh’s one program sits in Pittsburgh.

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

  1. Carnegie Mellon University

    Information Technology, MS

    • Pittsburgh, PA
    • Private nonprofit
    • Fully online
    • Master’s

    It leads toward Pittsburgh's 5,230 computer systems analysts. 94% graduation rate.

    Online tuition
    $620 per credit
    Graduation rate
    94%school-wide
    Median earnings
    $138,7811 year after
    Graduates in this field
    6322023-24, all formats
    Accreditation
    MSCHE, CAE-CD schoolMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
    Starts
    January, May, August

More Options Elsewhere in Pennsylvania

  1. Drexel University

    Information Systems, MS

    • Philadelphia, PA
    • Private nonprofit
    • Fully online
    • Master’s

    One rate for everyone: $63,000. It leads toward Pittsburgh's 5,230 computer systems analysts. 78% graduation rate.

    Online tuition
    $1,400 per credit$63,000 total for 45 credits

Pittsburgh has one of Pennsylvania’s five ranked programs.

See every online IT program in Pennsylvania, plus the state’s job projections, led by security analysts at 26.3% through 2034.

Pittsburgh Programs in Our National Rankings

In the CAE-CD Schools ranking, Information Technology, MS at Carnegie Mellon University places 1st of 66, Pittsburgh’s best national result.

ProgramNational rankingPlace
Information Technology, MS, Carnegie Mellon UniversityCAE-CD Schools1st of 66
Information Technology, MS, Carnegie Mellon UniversityMaster's in IT1st of 37

IT Jobs and Salaries in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s best-paid IT role: IT managers, at $159,090; Pittsburgh’s lowest is $59,010, for help desk technicians. Pittsburgh’s largest IT group: 5,290 IT managers.

RoleMedian payvs PennsylvaniaTypical rangeJobsEntry educationSalary guide
IT Manager$159,090−3%$100,500 to $224,1305,290Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Network Engineer$123,410−6%$77,470 to $166,3601,110Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Information Security Analyst$103,630−12%$66,500 to $158,1401,130Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Database Administrator$102,070+2%$58,340 to $165,250470Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Computer Systems Analyst$98,5500%$63,550 to $126,0705,230Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Web Developer$82,560−4%$36,660 to $121,830310Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$80,440−7%$59,760 to $124,0201,570Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Network Support Specialist$78,820+1%$47,920 to $118,010780Associate's degreeSalary guide
Help Desk Technician$59,010+1%$38,270 to $82,8905,270Some college, no degreeSalary guide

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

Against Pennsylvania medians, the biggest Pittsburgh premium: database administrators at $102,070 (+2%). Weakest in Pittsburgh: information security analysts, at $103,630 (−12%). 3 of 9 Pittsburgh roles out-earn the Pennsylvania median.

Next in Pittsburgh: computer systems analysts (5,230 jobs, $98,550) and network and computer systems administrators (1,570 jobs, $80,440). In Pittsburgh, bachelor’s-level roles are 71% of IT jobs; Pittsburgh students can compare online IT bachelor’s degrees. Below a bachelor’s in Pittsburgh: help desk technicians (5,270 jobs, $59,010) and network support specialists (780 jobs, $78,820). For those Pittsburgh roles, see online IT associate degrees.

In Pittsburgh, help desk to IT manager means $59,010 to $159,090, or 2.7 times the pay.

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

IT Job Concentration in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh holds 19% of Pennsylvania's computer jobs.

Cybersecurity Jobs in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has 1,130 security analysts earning $103,630, at 0.83 times the U.S. share.

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

Tech Jobs in Pittsburgh: The Industries Behind Them

Pittsburgh computer systems design firms employ 16,470 people at 865 locations, averaging $102,254.

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 Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’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 Pittsburgh FAQ

How many online IT programs are in Pittsburgh?

One program at one school in the Pittsburgh metro area, in Pittsburgh: one master's degree. All are at private schools.

Which IT jobs are scarce in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is lightest on web developers (0.63x) and network and systems administrators (0.70x the U.S. share).

What does an entry-level IT job pay in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh help desk jobs pay a $59,010 median, and 5,270 people hold them.

What does the information sector look like in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh's information sector averages $131,255 a job across 21,755 workers.

Keep researching

Sources

  1. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state and metropolitan area estimates
  2. NCES IPEDS institutional directory (HD2024), metro area of each school’s main campus
  3. BEA, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area (MARPP), all items, 2024
  4. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, by metropolitan area
  5. Projections Central, long-term occupational projections by state (base year 2024, projected to 2034), produced by state labor market information offices
  6. Program pages for each program listed above, linked from its card