Computer Employees

To qualify for the computer professional exemption, computer employees must either be paid on a salary basis and earn at least $455 per week ($23,660 per year) or be paid at least $23.63 per hour. Those employed as computer systems analysts, computer programmers, software engineers, or other similarly skilled workers in the computer field can qualify under this exemption.

In addition, an exempt computer employee's primary duty must be in one of the following areas:

• Applying systems analysis techniques and procedures, including consulting with users to determine hardware, software, or system functional applications.
• Designing, developing, documenting, analyzing, testing, creating or modifying computer systems or programs (including prototypes), based on and related to user or system design specifications.
• Designing, documenting, testing, creating, or modifying computer programs related to machine operating systems.
• A combination of the above duties, requiring the same level of skill.

This exemption does not apply to employees whose duties involve the manufacture or repair of computer hardware