Highest-Paying Jobs to Get with a Computer Science Degree
Reem Mohamed
01 June, 2023
6 mins read
Careers
A degree in Computer Science is beneficial in more ways than one! If you have a passion for the field and the craft, you’ll not only be enjoying your study time, but you’ll also have a secure future waiting for you after graduation. With a Computer Science degree, you can have a guaranteed career path that will lead to success and prosperity. You can also have a fair share of job choices across a variety of related fields.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, all Computer Science degree jobs have an average annual salary of approximately $45,000 higher than the median salary of all other occupations. Additionally, apart from the financial benefits, Computer Science degree 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.
While all Computer Science degree jobs can be viewed as high-paying, some of them still pay more than others. Before we delve into that, however, let us first discuss what affects your salary as a computer scientist!
Factors Affecting Your Salary in a Computer Science Degree Job
There are a number of factors that have an influence on the salary of any job profile in the computer science field. These include the following:
- Location: Location is an important factor when checking how much you’ll make in a computer science degree job. For instance, in the US, the average annual salary of computer scientists in California is $111,909, while in Texas, it is $92,767.
- Experience: A computer scientist with entry-level experience can earn an average salary of $60,000 per year. However, senior professionals with more years of experience can make an average annual salary of around $115,661.
- Specialisation: The salary package for each discipline and job title is different. For example, a professional with a computer science degree who specialises in game design can start their career as a game developer with an average salary of $74,140, which is higher than the overall average for entry-level positions.
Highest-Paying Computer Science Degree Jobs
As a field with lucrative prospects and various potential career paths, there are plenty of high-paying computer science degree jobs you can apply for and make a lot of money. Most of these high-paying jobs require only a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, but you might need a Master’s degree for management positions, which, naturally, demands more position-oriented knowledge and work experience. Here are some of our top picks!
1. Software Engineer
As a software engineer, you have to create computer programmes or software, as well as maintain, audit, and fix them when necessary. Your main qualifications will include writing code and speaking several programming languages. This is mostly a dynamic role because of the fast-evolving nature of the field and technology in general; you will also get to work with other specialists like system analysts in order to develop the required software.
There are no standard job titles in this field, which means that depending on the company, your title might sound different but still mean largely the same thing. For instance, you could be called a Software Developer or a Java Software Engineer if you’re hired to work with Java. However, in general, the terms Engineer and Developer are used interchangeably in this field.
Average Salary: $87,845 as a junior, $118,267 as a senior, and $143,000 as a manager per year.
2. UX Designer
Not all Computer Science degree jobs are purely technical, there are a few here and there that might integrate an artistic factor as well, and UX design is one of them. As a UX Designer, you have to focus on the user experience element in the process of designing apps and websites, which also adds an element of human interaction to your job. You will be in charge of designing those elements with which users interact, combining technical knowledge, aesthetics, and functionality. It’s both fun and high-paying. Talk about a win-win!
Average Salary: Between $83,000 and $130,000 per year.
3. Security Engineer
If you’re interested in cybersecurity, this is a great Computer Science degree job for you! Your role will have the main responsibility of protecting your company’s computers, digital information, and networks by developing and implementing diverse technologies. As a security engineer, you can either work in-house for a single company or work for a company that outsources its cybersecurity services to help different companies and clients keep their information secure.
This job can have other titles, including the following:
Cyber Security Engineer
Security Analyst
Security Consultant
Average Salary: $73,883 per year, but can go as high as $176,895 in some major companies.
.jpg)
4. Web Designer
Working as a web designer means you’ve earned yourself one of the highest-paying Computer Science degree jobs and it gives you the opportunity to create websites and applications that are also web-based. Creating and working on the back end of an application is usually what a web designer does, meaning that they prototype, design, and maintain the base software or, in simpler non-tech terms, the part which is not visible to users. Front-end development, which includes the interface and visual elements, is usually reserved for UX and UI Designers, but some web designers specialise in both. Those designers retain the title of Full-Stack Developers and earn higher salaries than web designers who only deal with the back end.
Average Salary: Between $50,000 and $67,000 per year for web designers and an average of $100,000 for full-stack developers.
5. System Analyst
Becoming a System Analyst is a good choice for scoring one of those highest-paying Computer Science degree jobs in the field. You will mainly be expected to work with already existing software and hardware to analyse and optimise business efficiency and production at your company of choice. You will mainly be focusing on identifying issues and fixing them, as well as improving the pre-existing systems.
Average Salary: $82,000 per year.
6. Video Games Developer
If you are passionate about video games, which is a main requirement for this job, then working as a video games developer will be as fun and exciting as it will be rewarding and high-paying. Having this job differs depending on whether you are working at a large company or an indie company. At large companies, you will have many specific roles in game development, while in indie companies, your roles will mostly overlap or merge. However, at the end of the day, you will be able to choose the role you feel most comfortable with, whether that’s writing the code, designing gameplay, or overseeing production among others. Another added perk of this job is getting your name featured in the game’s credits, which is always a great way to feel good about your job!
Average Salary: The average salary differs depending on which specific role in game development you choose to take on, however, the total always comes to an average of $96,000 per year.
Computer Science is a wide and diverse field that allows you to take your pick and choose from a variety of different jobs in the industry. Not only that, but you also get to make good money and maybe even have fun while you’re at it! So, using this guide to the highest-paying Computer Science degree jobs, you can decide if this is the career for you! You can also check out the highest-paying engineering jobs in case you want a different career but still remain in a similar field!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best job in computer science?
The best jobs in computer science include the following:
Software Developer
Web Developer
UX Designer
Mobile App Developer
IT Project Manager
Information Security Analyst
Systems Architect
AI Engineer
Do computer science majors get a lot of money?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many computer science jobs are worth more than $100,000 per year, and the top earners in the field can take home almost $200,000 per year.
Which company pays computer scientists the most?
According to a survey of over 1,000 engineers, Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon are the four top-paying tech companies for software engineers. The average salary for a software engineer at these companies is $81,000 per year.
Is computer science good for the future?
Yes, a computer science degree opens up a lot of opportunities across several related fields with multiple available jobs and potential career paths.
Is computer science worth it in 2023?
Computer science jobs can lead to lucrative careers as many companies offer top-dollar salaries, even for entry-level positions. Based on data from Payscale, computer scientists receive a median salary of $81,037 (Payscale, 2023).
