This post was originally published on here
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a 13 percent increase in computer science jobs between 2020 and 2030, thus making a degree in computer science worth it. Getting a bachelor’s in computer science can help you stay ahead in this new digital revolution. The digital world is everywhere now, putting computer technology and the internet into everything from security systems and classrooms to doorbells and VR headsets.
With all this projected growth, you may be wondering where you might fit in this vast field. Computer science is filled with different and interesting specialties and careers to choose from. Here, we will describe the value of a computer science degree, which jobs are in demand, as well as what they pay, and how you can break into this growing field.
Learn more about earning a bachelor’s in computer science at Regis.
Value of a bachelor’s degree in computer science
Careers in computer science are in high demand and that demand is expected to increase. A degree in computer science can open the door to careers in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, software engineering or digital and interactive media.
Still not convinced that a computer science career is right for you — despite the numerous options and opportunities? Consider the following:
- Computer science jobs, regardless of specialization, are in high demand.
- Computer science skills can be transferred from one specialization to another, leaving ample opportunities for career changes.
- Computer science careers often pay well.
- You can use your computer science degree to change lives for the better.
- Median salary for a software engineer is $122,730.
What jobs can you get with a computer science degree?
Name an industry, and computer science graduates are working in it. From healthcare, education and business to philanthropy, sports and government, every organization has a need for computer science graduates.
Websites and social media platforms are just a fraction of the areas computer science graduates are involved with. Computer science graduates work behind the scenes on finance investment apps, food service point-of-sale systems and logistics for companies like UPS. They perform data, systems and network analyses. They write code to organize reams of data, test developing technology, and run experiments. They build tools for educators to use in classrooms and doctors to use in operating theaters. Common entry level computer science jobs and their median salaries include:
- App Developer: $99,181
- Database Administrator: $97,514
- Programmer Analyst: $91,950
- Software Developer: $75,290
- Systems Analyst or Engineer: $79,770
- Video Game Developer: $78,418
- Web Developer: $75,348
- Data Analyst: $82,207
Whether you want to create the next popular video game, develop a new digital art form, help chronically ill patients, make educators’ jobs easier or use your technical skills to improve the world in some other way, a degree in computer science can open doors for you to achieve your goals.
Learn more about computer science career paths below:
Developers
There are a variety of developers: web, app and software developers, backend, frontend, full stack developers. All of them are concerned with, well, developing technology that people will interact with. Developers use code to create websites, applications and software programs.
- Back-end developers are concerned with the underlying structure that makes these things run and connects, for example, data stored in one place to where it’s displayed in another place.
- Front-end developers work with the part of the product that users interact with, i.e., the product interface. They’re concerned with both form (the visual aspect of the product) and function (how it works) and may either interact with UX designers or take care of UX needs themselves.
- Full stack developers do all of the above. They’re well-versed in both back-end and front-end development and can create an app or other virtual product from start to finish.
User Experience (UX)
Shorthand for user experience, UX pros are concerned with how people experience a product. They aim to make applications, physical tech gadgets, and of course, websites, as easy and intuitive for users as possible. The goal is for users to never have to “figure out” the technology, but for it to function so naturally that using it is just as easy as opening a properly designed door.
UX researchers may need a higher level of education, while UX digital designer jobs may be open to folks with bachelor’s degrees with the right background and experience. UX professionals may start in more standard developer roles before focusing on UX for their careers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing branch of technology that touches as many areas as tech itself. Jobs for computer science graduates in AI include:
- AI engineers, who build the actual AI technology from the ground up, taking standard computer engineering to the next level.
- AI product managers, who oversee the development of AI products from beginning to end and make sure that everyone involved in creating the product is keeping up with the timeline and communicating across departments. Technical know-how and the ability to explain technological ideas to non-tech folks is crucial for this sort of job.
- AI data analysts, who build models to process data from the AI technology in order to measure the effectiveness of the technology and advise on needed improvements.
Analysts
Computer science graduates develop skills that come in handy when a company or organization needs to process a lot of data and find out where its strengths and weaknesses are. Data analysts, business analysts, and other types of analysts, need knowledge of coding, data structures and systems, as well as statistics, in order to do their jobs well.
Cybersecurity
The more our lives are connected to technology and the internet, the more our data and technological systems are at risk of cyberattack. This makes cybersecurity especially important. Cybersecurity analysts and engineers work together to protect technology and systems from cyberattacks — and to patch vulnerabilities and clean up the mess after a security breach.
- Cybersecurity analysts, aka information security analysts, scrutinize existing systems to identify potential holes in data networks and programs so they can be fixed before a bad actor finds them. They also work post-attack to identify where the breach occurred.
- Engineers build security into new and existing systems. They also address the vulnerabilities identified after a breach.
Quality Assurance (QA)
Quality assurance is not optional for companies that create software for customers. QA engineers (or test engineers) and QA analysts ensure that products work the way they’re supposed to. They may write code that runs hundreds of tests at once or they may work manually, following paths a user might take to identify bugs. The goal is to make sure the existing code is solid, and the vision of the development team is realized for users.
Ready to take the first step toward your technology career? Regis University Admissions can help you identify the computer science career that best fits your goals. Learn more about earning a bachelor’s in computer science at Regis.
