Information Systems Auditor Salary

Many organizations store all operational information on computer systems and networks. These systems are often audited to ensure the integrity of the information, which is the responsibility of an information systems auditor. In December 2010, PayScale reported average salaries based on 372 individuals working in this occupation reporting their wages.

Qualifications

Employers require a bachelor's degree in information systems, finance or a related discipline. Along with education, employers may require credentials such as the Certified Information Systems Auditor administered by ISACA. Personal attributes of information systems auditors include strong analytical skills and attention to detail. Strong computer and technical skills are also important because information systems auditors use a variety of computer systems and frequently create ad-hoc reports for analysis.

Average Salary

Information systems auditors often receive a base salary, bonuses and profit-sharing. Along with compensation, 92 percent reported receiving benefits such as healthcare insurance, paid time off and other fringe benefits such as life insurance, retirement savings and education reimbursement. The national average base salary ranged from $54,557 to $80,139 per year. Bonuses ranged from $2,008 to $5,897 per year, and average profit-sharing ranged from $1,048 to $3,500 per year. Total compensation including base salary, bonuses and profit-sharing ranged from $54,381 to $83,012 per year.

Responsibilities

The amount of information being audited often plays a role in the salary of an information systems auditor. Large organizations often have a team of these professionals who focus only on certain types of systems or a portion of the overall auditing responsibilities. Smaller organizations may have only one information systems auditor who is responsible for all systems, which can require more skills. The highest wages were reported by those working for organizations with 600 to 1,999 employees, earning average salaries ranging from $49,930 to $93,161 per year. Those working for employers with over 20,000 employees earned average salaries ranging from $54,106 to $86,008 per year.

Professional Experience

Some employers hire recent graduates for this occupation and many information systems auditors increase their salaries as they gain professional experience. The largest majority -- 49 percent -- had between one and four years of experience and earned average salaries ranging from $51,675 to $66,168 per year. Those with over 10 years of experience earned average salaries ranging from $73,365 to $106,104 per year.

Industries and Employer Types

Popular employers for information system auditors include large information technology or accounting consulting firms. The highest wages were reported in the information technology services industry, paying average salaries ranging from $54,131 to $75,724 per year. Accounting and auditing firms paid average salaries ranging from $54,833 to $75,317 per year, and the banking industry paid average salaries ranging from $52,531 to $72,929 per year.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants and Auditors
• PayScale: Salary Snapshot for Information Systems Auditor Jobs
• PayScale: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• University of Minnesota: IS Auditor Job Description
• PayScale: Salary Snapshot for Information Systems Auditor Jobs by Company Size
• PayScale: Salary Snapshot for Information Systems Auditor Jobs by Experience

Resources

• ISACA: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)