(Last Updated On: 09/03/2017)

What Can I Do With a Major in Computer Science?

A computer science degree effectively prepares students for a career in the tech industry. Most of the coursework for computer science majors is theoretical, but students normally become very familiar with at least one programming language. By putting the focus on theory and providing some practical programming experience in the lab, students are able to apply what they learn to any other language that they want to learn in the future.

More than 75% of computer science majors go on to work in a field closely related to the subject. Most computer science majors go on to work as researchers, hardware engineers, computer programmers, software developers, and database architects. Some also choose to work as teachers, and you will find computer science graduates working in all levels of education from kindergarten through college.

Computer science graduates are extremely desirable in the workplace. According to many studies, these graduates have the highest job offer rate after graduation than majors from any other subject. If you want to optimize your chances of getting a good job right after college, then this could be a great major for you.

Since technology moves so quickly, computer science majors have to continue learning for their entire careers if they want to remain relevant in the workplace. Sometimes, they have to learn on their own time, while working on their own projects (big companies don’t tend to update their technology too often, and many people fall behind the times by not developing their abilities outside of work).

Graduates with only a bachelor’s degree in computer science degree earn approximately 9% more on average than the average graduates from all other majors.

Careers for Computer Science Majors

Computer science majors are extremely desirable in the workplace, and have many different employment options available to them. Below are some of the most common occupations for students with a degree in computer science.

Occupation Median Salary Median Hourly Current jobs Outlook Required Education
College Professor $62,050 $29.83 1,756,000 Good Graduate Degree
Computer Hardware Engineer $98,810 $47.50 70,000 Good Bachelor’s degree
Computer Programmer $71,380 $34.32 363,100 Good Bachelor’s degree
Computer Scientist $100,660 $48.39 28,930 Good Doctoral degree
Computer Systems Analyst $77,740 $37.38 235,410 Normal Bachelor’s degree
Database Administrator $73,490 $35.33 120,350 Good Bachelor’s Degree
High School Teacher $53,230 $25.59 1,109,500 Good Bachelor’s Degree
Information Security Analyst $75,660 $36.38 302,300 Good Bachelor’s degree
Market Research Analyst $60,660 $29.16 249,810 Good Bachelor’s degree
Middle School Teacher $51,960 $24.98 659,460 Good Bachelor’s Degree
Network Administrator $69,160 $33.25 235,410 Normal Bachelor’s degree
Software Developer $94,180 $45.28 514,790 Good Bachelor’s Degree
Statistician $73,720 $35.44 22,560 Normal Master’s Degree