Computers are an integral part of people's daily lives that a lot of activities rely heavily on them. From online shopping, playing video games, communicating across different time zones, and even tracking one's own health and fitness progress, technology has come a long way, thanks to advances in computer science.
Computer science (CS) has been considered as one of the most lucrative, highest-paying, and fastest growing fields of the 21st century. One way or another, companies will need the expertise of computer science graduates to allow them to transition into the digital world. For small and medium enterprises, they may need a web developer to help them put up a website and increase their online presence. For larger companies wanting to improve their work efficiency, they might consult a systems analyst and an IT project manager to lead in refreshing their organizations' respective information systems.
In today's economic scene, companies are constantly looking for individuals with a high level of analytical thinking and problem-solving skills because technology is continuously innovating. That being said, over the years, computer science has widened its scope when it comes to the industries it can be applied to. This is the very reason why the demand for computer science majors outweighs the supply year after year.
So, whether you're just fresh out of high school, considering to major in computer science, or you're already knee-deep into the degree, read on to discover the benefits of pursuing a CS degree, as well as the required skillsets from and the viable careers available for CS graduates.
The Benefits Of Having A Career In Computer Science
A computer science degree can open a wide range of career opportunities for you. Believe it or not, graduating with a CS degree not only allows you to fill a spot in a massive tech company in Silicon Valley, but also in different industries. There's work waiting for CS grads in the government, as well as healthcare, financial, and insurance industries, among many others.
Each of these sectors are now turning to computational technology to increase efficiency, and data manipulation and interpretation, integrate information systems, and innovate their business processes. With this in mind, there's a myriad of jobs available for computer scientists anywhere in the world. You can even work remotely if you choose to!
Another benefit of having a CS degree is your potential earnings. In fact, computer science majors have one of the highest starting salaries in the US. According to Payscale, a US compensation software and data company, the average salary of an individual with a bachelor's degree in computer science is estimated at USD $86,000 per year, depending on their field of expertise. Entry-level positions can earn up to USD $60,000 a year, while managerial salaries can go as high as USD $120,000 per annum.
What Skills Do You Need?
Working in the computer science industry means you'll be exposed to different algorithms, mathematics, and various programming languages. These are merely challenges you'll face in the field than they are obstacles. But, for you to conquer them, you need to possess analytical and problem-solving skills, creativity, and resilience.
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Analytical And Problem-Solving Skills
Many of your day-to-day work as a developer would involve identifying complex problems and coming up with technical solutions. Having strong analytical and problem-solving skills enables you to break down complex issues you're dealing with to find a logical and systematic solution that's tailored fit to your project's needs.
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Creativity
Creativity is important in developing software applications because solving real-world problems usually requires out-of-the-box solutions. As a developer, you need to ensure your clients that you can provide innovative and effective solutions to their IT needs.
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Resilience
Computer programmers are some of the most resilient professionals you can ever find. Why? They deal with a lot of trials and errors in programming, trying out different codes to make their programs work. If you want to pursue a CS degree, you need to understand that you're going to learn programming languages that allow you to essentially speak to computers and give them commands. That being said, seeing errors on your code could be frustrating at times. Always remember that it's usually the computer that fails to understand your code, which is not entirely your fault.
Career Options For CS Majors
There are many different job options open to CS majors. These include:
1. Software Developer
One of the most common career paths CS graduates take is custom software development. Software developers create applications for people to use on various devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets. Some of the most common software programs out there are web browsers, word processors, etc.
The main responsibilities of software developers are developing, testing, and maintaining programs. They need to be fluent in programming languages used to create these software applications.
To succeed in software development, you must possess excellent communication skills. You'll need this when facing clients and end-users to gather insights about how your software is functioning.
The median income for software developers is around USD$107,510, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
2. Data Scientist
Data science is a fairly new field of study in computer science. It is where data scientists interpret huge amounts of data (also known as big data) using statistics, computer science, math, and analytics. They transform big data into actionable insights to help create solutions for different sectors across the board. In fact, some of the industries refined by big data include energy, finance, transportation, retail, and marketing sectors.
Data scientists work with different stakeholders in an organization to help them achieve their goals and improve their work flow using big data. If you're interested in this field, skills in statistics, probability, modelling, and programming should be included in your resume. Some of the important programming languages you need to be well-versed in are SQL and Python or R.
The average salary for a data scientist in the United States is USD$122,549 per year.
3. Mobile Applications Developer
Mobile app development is a branch of software engineering wherein the developer's main responsibility is developing software applications for mobile devices. If you own a smartphone, all the applications you use are designed and created by mobile app developers. Mobile app development is a very lucrative profession and is expected to grow at a consistent pace in the coming years.
If you're looking into designing the next big mobile app, make sure that you're knowledgeable about different coding languages. You may also need to work with other software experts to help you create applications, test and fix bugs, and maintain the quality of the application.
The average salary for a mobile developer is USD$118,260 per year in the United States.
4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer
Companies these days are starting to invest in AI technology to improve and simplify day-to-day tasks humans usually do. These tasks include, but are not limited to, speech recognition, image processing, business process management, and even diagnosis of disease. This is the reason why AI engineers are high in demand.
The primary responsibility of an AI engineer is to build AI models using machine learning and deep learning algorithms to create business insights. The business organization then uses these insights to make decisions that can improve the organization.
Some of the skills required to become an AI engineer are adept knowledge in programming, linear algebra, probability, and statistics. They also need to have communication and problem-solving skills as most of their job comes with working hand in hand with stakeholders to address organizational concerns.
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary of an AI engineer is USD$114,121 in the United States.
5. Database Administrator (DBA)
Are you an analytical and a detail-oriented person? Does the idea of analyzing, evaluating, and organizing critical data excite you? If so, you might consider becoming a database administrator.
Database administrators analyze, store, and organize critical data for retrieval and security. They're responsible for creating a database and maintaining the integrity and quality of it to ensure that the stored data is secured in case a security breach occurs.
Database administrators need to have problem-solving skills to fix anomalies and database malfunctions. And, since the slightest variation can cause major errors in a database, DBAs also need to be detail-oriented to prevent those errors.
In the United States, database administrators earn a median income of USD$93,750 every year.
6. Cloud Computing Engineer
Another emerging technology in the world of computer science is cloud computing. Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services, such as servers, storage, database, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the Internet. Companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Services (GCS) are two major cloud computing services available today.
In simple terms, cloud computing allows businesses to upload files, websites, and even business infrastructures to AWS's or Google's server or 'cloud.' Businesses can access these files remotely as long as they're connected to the internet.
The main responsibilities of cloud computing engineers are to work with these businesses, evaluate their IT infrastructure, and migrate them into the cloud. This is why besides adept programming and analytical knowledge, cloud computing engineers also need to have communications skills as they'll be working closely with business owners and stakeholders.
The average salary for a cloud engineer is USD$115,060 per year in the United States.
7. Web Developer
As businesses of all sizes continue to migrate online, web development will continue to be a popular career path for CS graduates. Web development refers to the creation and deployment of websites using a concoction of computer languages. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP are just some of the most common web development languages developers use to build dynamic websites.
Web developers have the option to choose whether they'll focus on front-end, backend, or full-stack web development. They need to have great creativity not only in designing the attractiveness and user experience of a site, but also in programming the functionality of it.
The median salary for web developers in the United States is at USD$73,760.
8. Systems Analyst
In order for companies to stay up-to-date with their IT needs, they hire systems analysts to evaluate their current computer systems, and then integrate new technologies to improve business processes. A systems analyst also conducts tests and diagnosis to ensure the quality of a system can meet the long-term goals of an organization.
System analysts must possess interpersonal skills because they'll have to work closely with managers and employees alike. They need to know how to layout recommendations to major stakeholders in order to implement changes into the company's computer system. They also need to conduct trainings to help employees adjust to these new changes.
The average salary for a systems analyst in the United States is USD$77,728 per year.
9. Information Security Analyst
Information security analysts are responsible for creating cutting-edge systems to protect information networks and websites from possible security breaches. It's important that they are up-to-date with current data security trends and maintain systems' integrity to prevent issues before they even occur.
In the United States, information security analysts earn a median income of USD$99,730 per year.
10. Computer Network Architect
Computer network architects are responsible for evaluating a company's data sharing and communication needs. They do this through designing, implementing, and networking data communications systems, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), extranets, and intranets.
Computer network architects have a median income of USD$112,690 in the United States.
11. Games Developer
If you like games and are interested in developing your own, becoming a game developer can be a viable career option for you. Game developers create games for a wide variety of platforms, like computers, gaming consoles, tablets, mobile phones, and other hand-held devices. You also have the option to choose between the creative and programming sides of game design.
Game studios these days require prospective developers to have a portfolio to showcase their skillset.
A video game developer's salary ranges between USD$40,000 to USD$60,000 in the United States.
Conclusion
With companies and different sectors transitioning into the digital world, a computer science degree can surely open unlimited possibilities for its graduates. You can choose to take the more traditional route of software development, database administration, web development, or network engineering. But, diving into the emerging fields like data science, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence are also great options that can drive your career as a computer science graduate.
