Is IT a good career for introverts?
It depends on the role. Of the 10 IT roles we compared, database architects report the least contact with others and computer systems analysts the most.
IT is often recommended to introverts as if it were one job. In the ratings it isn't: help desk and support roles report face-to-face discussions far more often than software developers, who rate among the lowest of any occupation.
Teamwork is the measure to watch. Every role here rates working in a team as very important or more, even where dealing with the public matters little.
We compared ten IT occupations, from the help desk to software, databases, networks and security. They are separate occupations in the federal data, each with its own worker ratings, pay and outlook. The ratings come from O*NET, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, where workers answer questions about what their job involves.
What the data shows
- Contact with others ranges from 3.6 out of 5 for database architects to 4.4 for computer systems analysts. Both are closest to "contact most of the time".
- After contact, the biggest difference is in face-to-face discussions: 3.0 out of 5 for software developers, against 4.8 for computer user support specialists.
- The next biggest is distracting or uncomfortable noise: 1.1 out of 5 for software developers, against 2.8 for web developers.
- 1 of the 10 occupations with their own pay data involve more contact with others than the typical US occupation.
- 4% of software developers say they have face-to-face discussions every day, compared with 89% of computer user support specialists.
- All 10 rate working in a team as very important or more.
- Among occupations with their own pay data, the lowest-contact one is also the best paid: database architects, at a median $139,500 a year.
Social demands, side by side
Each figure is an O*NET average on a 1 to 5 scale. Lower means less of it. Hover a heading for the exact question.
| Role | Contact | Face-to-face | Phone | Speaking | Customers | Teamwork | Conflict | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.4 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| Database Administrators | 4.1 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 4.6 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Database Architects | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 1.8 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Computer Programmers | 4.2 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
| Software Developers | 3.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| Web Developers | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| Information Security Analysts | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
Pay, entry and outlook
| Role | Median pay | Typical entry education | Typical training | Growth 2025-35 | Projected openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | $61,860 | Some college, no degree | Moderate-term on-the-job training | -3.5% | 39,700 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 | Bachelor's degree | None | -4.1% | 13,400 |
| Database Administrators | $104,620 | Bachelor's degree | None | -0.1% | 3,300 |
| Database Architects | $139,500 | Bachelor's degree | None | +9.4% | 3,900 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $105,850 | Bachelor's degree | None | +7.9% | 32,900 |
| Computer Programmers | $100,390 | Bachelor's degree | None | -7.3% | 4,400 |
| Software Developers | $135,980 | Bachelor's degree | None | +10.2% | 95,300 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,300 | Bachelor's degree | None | +5.7% | 10,700 |
| Web Developers | $92,650 | Bachelor's degree | None | +3.8% | 5,300 |
| Information Security Analysts | $129,180 | Bachelor's degree | None | +21.0% | 14,100 |
Each role in detail
Computer User Support Specialists
Contact with others: 4.4 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 49% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 89% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "never".
Median pay $61,860 a year. Typical entry education: some college, no degree, with moderate-term on-the-job training. About 39,700 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.
- Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software.
- Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Contact with others: 4.2 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 33% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 50% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $99,130 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 13,400 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
- Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
Database Administrators
Contact with others: 4.1 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 31% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 36% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $104,620 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 3,300 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
- Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.
- Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
Database Architects
Contact with others: 3.6 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 8% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 49% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $139,500 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 3,900 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Develop and document database architectures.
- Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
- Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
Computer Systems Analysts
Contact with others: 4.4 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 55% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 49% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $105,850 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 32,900 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions to restore normal functioning.
- Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer-related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.
- Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
Computer Programmers
Contact with others: 4.2 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 32% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 60% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a month or more" (16% say never). Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $100,390 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 4,400 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
- Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
- Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
Software Developers
Contact with others: 3.9 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 17% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 4% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a month or more" (35% say never). Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "never".
Median pay $135,980 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 95,300 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Contact with others: 4.0 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 24% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 75% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $104,300 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 10,700 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
- Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
Web Developers
Contact with others: 3.9 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 17% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 67% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $92,650 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 5,300 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
- Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
- Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems.
Information Security Analysts
Contact with others: 4.3 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 44% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 63% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $129,180 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 14,100 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
- Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
- Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers.
What the numbers can't tell you
- O*NET ratings are averages of worker answers on a 1 to 5 scale. Some questions ask how much (contact), some how often (face-to-face, phone, public speaking, conflict, noise) and some how important (teamwork, customers). They are shown on their own scales.
- The ratings describe the job, averaged across workers and workplaces. A particular employer, team or shift can be very different.
- They don't measure personality, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.
- Pay and openings are national figures from the BLS. Local pay varies.
Common questions
Which IT job involves the least contact with others?
Of the 10 roles compared here, database architects report the least, at 3.6 out of 5 on O*NET's contact rating, closest to "contact most of the time".
Do these IT jobs need a degree?
All 10 occupations with BLS education data typically need more than a high school diploma to start.
Do these ratings measure personality?
No. They are averages of what workers say their job asks of them. They describe the work, not the people doing it, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.