COMPUTER SCIENCE JOBS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Answer this. Is solving complex puzzles and cracking codes your thing? Do you enjoy learning new languages? Or maybe you have been so fascinated with the computer that you tore off the cover and started fiddling with its internal parts and wiring. If you can relate to any of these, then a career in computer science might be the best fit for you.

Computer science is the study of computers, including hardware and software design, computational theory, algorithmic foundation, and the use of processing information. The computer science field is fairly diverse. Today, all industries have a significant demand for computer science professionals. And this need will continue to grow in the coming years as the world’s dependence on technology increases.

Requirement for a career in computer science

A high school diploma is typically necessary to enter this lucrative field. However, times have changed. Students don’t necessarily attend four-year degrees because of the high costs involved in college. Moreover, for many students, pursuing an in-person degree program is challenging because of their work or family commitments. These students instead prefer learning computer science in programs that have a shorter duration. The best part is today, employers are also hiring individuals without a degree.

Put this way, a degree with computer science majors can indeed open doors for you in the tech world. However, acquiring a computer science degree is not necessary. You can find computer science jobs without degree and fulfill your dreams. In other words, choosing a major in some other field is not a disadvantage if you wish to step your foot in the computer science field.

That said, studying computer science can open various career pathways to getting a job in your desired field. Are you wondering what jobs computer science offers you? In that case, you have come to the right place. Below are the best computer science jobs:

1. Software Developer

Do you have a strong passion for programming? In that case, pursuing a career as a software developer might be just what you need. Experts in this field are responsible for developing, testing, and maintaining programs and applications that users run on the computer, mobile, or other devices.

To excel in this career path, you must have strong knowledge of the software development lifecycle and be fluent in the different programming languages you need to write codes. In addition, you must possess strong communication, creativity, and attention-to-detail skills.

Your day-to-day job duties as a software developer can include:

• Write and implement clean and efficient code
• Troubleshoot and upgrade the existing system
• Work closely with other developers and team to design and evaluate the system
• Prepare detailed technical documentation and reports

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual salary of software developers is $120,990.

2. Web Developer

As the name suggests, web developers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining websites. A professional web developer’s primary concern is the website’s overall look and feel. Also, you will see the technical aspects, such as site speed, security, amount of traffic the site can handle, etc.

Proficient in programming languages, such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, Python, Ruby, etc., can help you excel in this field. However, besides technical skills, you also need to hone different soft skills as a web developer, for example, problem-solving, creativity, team player, multi-tasking, and detail-oriented.

Typical job responsibilities of a web developer include:

• Write and edit code for the site using different programming languages
• Test and troubleshoot issues
• Collaborate with other developers to determine the website’s layout
• Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies and incorporate them into projects

According to BLS, the annual salary of web developers is $81,320 per year.

3. Information Security Analyst

With the growth in technology worldwide, cybercrimes are also increasing. Due to this, organizations need experts to guard computer networks and systems from cyber threats and attacks. That’s where the role of Information Security Analyst comes into play.

As an Information security Analyst, you will be responsible for establishing security standards for the organization and protecting the company’s data and network from online threats. A good Information Security Analyst must develop and polish communication, analytical, risk management, and teamwork skills.

Your duties must include:

• Install software to safeguard the system and infrastructure of the company, such as firewall and data encryption programs
• Keep an eye out for security breaches and monitor the damages they may cause
• Conduct penetration testing
• Keep updated with the newest information and security trends

The average annual salary of an Information Security Analyst is $102,600 as per BLS, and the job outlook would grow by 33% from 2020 to 2030.

4. Data Scientist

Becoming a data scientist might be a perfect option if you have a never-ending curiosity and are passionate about learning new things daily. Each organization all around the world collects raw data from its routine operations. As a data scientist, your job is to identify trends and patterns and gain valuable insights. You will use different tools, machine-learning principles, statistical techniques, and algorithms.

You must possess exceptional organization, analytical, presentation, communication, and time management skills. Moreover, you must have a good understanding of numeracy and mathematical skills. And also have knowledge and experience with database and data visualization tools.

Below are the typical job responsibilities of a data scientist:

• Collect structured and unstructured data and interpret it
• Employ tools, techniques, and models to find the solution to the problem
• Develop and maintain databases
• Prepare reports and communicates findings with executives and project teams

According to the BLS, the average wage of a data scientist is $108,660 per year.

5. Computer Network Architect

Professionals in this field are responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining communication networks. As a Computer Network Architect, you may work on smaller networks such as LAN (Local Area Network), a giant network such as WAN (Wide Area Network), or even an intranet.

Network architects must be fluent in programming languages and have different certifications. Moreover, to perform well on your job, you must possess communication, detail-oriented, analytical, and time management skills.

Some of the everyday job duties of a Computer Network Architect must include:

• Plan, design, and upgrade computer network and system
• Oversee network security
• Perform frequent maintenance and make recommendations
• Research on new technologies being developed

Being a computer network architect, you can expect a mean salary of $120,520 per year.

Key takeaways

In the present age, nearly every organization relies on computer infrastructure. Moreover, every new technology developed has some software or hardware component. These innovations and advancements in the technological world come from real-world people.

Computer science professionals have various career choices, given how common computers are in everyday life. Which career path to choose depends on your skills and interest. A career in computer science offers many benefits to its professionals, including a good salary, job stability, freedom to work from anywhere, and more.