A Computer Science degree is your ticket to not one but many career paths. Too many options can be confusing, but we created a guide to help you understand these careers, what’s unique and similar about them, and what are the highest paying Computer Science jobs you can get.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, all Computer and Information Technology occupations have an average annual salary with approximately $45,000 higher than the median salary of all other occupations. Also, apart from the financial benefits, Computer Science jobs come with career stability, the possibility to choose remote positions and work from anywhere, and the satisfaction that your work will be widely used by many people.
We grouped the highest-paying Computer Science jobs into six main categories:
- software engineering,
- security engineering,
- UX design,
- web design,
- video games development,
- system analysis.
Most of these careers require only a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, but you might need a Master’s degree for management positions, which demand more specialised knowledge and work experience.
In fact, statistics across the globe show excellent prospects for the highest paying jobs in Computer Science:
- In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects Computer & Information Technology (IT) jobs to grow 12% by 2028.
- In Australia, the number of Software and Application Programmers is expected to grow from 121,300 to 146,800 by 2023.
- According to Immigration.ca, “qualified Software Engineers are being hired by Canadian employers as quickly as they become available.”
Careers you can have with a Computer Science degree
We identified six distinct career paths and the highest paying jobs in Computer Science that come along with them, based on information provided by websites specialised in job salaries, like Indeed.com, and websites dedicated to graduate career development and opportunities, like Prospects.ac.uk, the largest website like this in the UK. Let’s see what they are.
1. Software Engineer
In this job, you have to create computer programs (software), as well as maintain, audit, and fix them when necessary. It involves writing code and speaking different programming languages. The role is quite dynamic because of the fast-evolving technology, and it means working with other specialists like system analysts in order to develop the required software.
Job titles in this field are not standardised, which means that depending on the company, your title might sound different but still be largely the same thing. For example, you could be called a Software Developer or a Java Software Engineer if you’re hired to work with Java. In general, Engineer and Developer are used interchangeably in this field.
>> What Computer Science salary can you get if you are a Software Engineer?
In the US, the salary for a Software Engineer ranges between $87, 845 as a Junior and $118,267 as a Senior, according to Indeed.com. But you can also develop into managerial positions and become:
- Principal Software Engineer
- Software Development Director
Both with an average annual salary of $143,000 in the US.
For these leadership positions, apart from your technical skills, you will also need communication, analytical, and management skills, as well as a good understanding of business.
2. Security Engineer
This is a great career path for anyone interested in cybersecurity. Your responsibilities would be to protect your company’s computers, digital information, and networks by developing and implementing diverse technologies.
You can work in-house for a single company or work for a company that outsources its services and helps different clients secure their services and information.
>> What Computer Science salary can you get if you are a Security Engineer?
According to Indeed.com, a Security Engineer earns an average of $73,883 per year but can go as high as $176,895 in some top companies.
As with the Software Engineer jobs, a Security Engineer can also have different job titles, while the responsibilities remain largely the same. Some of these titles are:
Cyber Security Engineer
Security Analyst
Security Consultant
3. UX Designer
What if you’re passionate about technology, you want to become a Computer Scientist but you also have an artsy side to you or are really interested in human interaction. You could work as a UX Designer, another one of the highest paying jobs in Computer Science.
As a UX Designer, you have to focus on the user experience element in the process of designing apps and websites. You will design those elements which users interact with, combining technical knowledge, aesthetics, and functionality. It’s bound to be fun.
>> What Computer Science salary can you get if you are a UX Designer?
In the US, the salary for a UX Designer varies between $83 000 and $130 000 per year.
4. Web Designer
Web Design is another one of the highest paying Computer Science jobs and it gives you the opportunity to create websites and applications that are also web-based. Usually, Web Designers create the back-end of an app, meaning that they prototype, design and maintain the base software or, in other words, the part which is not visible to users. The front-end development (the interface and visual elements) is usually reserved to UX and UI Designers, but some Web Designers specialise in both. They are Full-Stack Developers and earn higher salaries than Web Designers who only deal with back-end.
>> What Computer Science salary can you get if you are a UX Designer?
The average salary for a Web Designer in the US ranges between $50, 000 and $67, 000 per year. By comparison, a Full Stack Developer earns an annual average of $100, 000.
5. Video Games Developer
To work as a Video Games Developer, the main thing you need is to be passionate about video games. If you are, it is needless to say, the job will be fun and exciting. Besides, your name will feature in the game’s credits and that will certainly make you feel good.
There are many specific roles in game development within large companies, while in indie companies, the roles tend to merge or overlap. But, you certainly have the possibility to choose what you feel more attracted to, whether writing code, designing gameplay, or overseeing production, to name a few.
>> What Computer Science salary can you get if you are a Video Game Developer?
The salary you’ll have varies based on the specific role you chose in game development, as well as on the size of the company, but to help you form an impression, a Game Designer in the US earns an average of $96, 000 per year.
6. System Analyst
Becoming a System Analyst is a good choice of scoring one of those highest paying Computer Science jobs. You will work with already existing software and hardware to analyse and optimise business efficiency and production at your company. Your focus will be on identifying issues and fixing them, as well as improving the existing systems.
>> What Computer Science salary can you get if you are a System Analyst?
The average salary for a System Analyst in the US is $82, 000 per year, according to Indeed.com.