Careers in Computing
The following information is adapted from computerscience.org.
For further information on each career, higher education in computer
science, and more, please visit computerscience.org.
Computer Hardware Designer
Computer hardware designers create the physical pieces that make
computers work, like the central processing unit, monitor, mouse,
keyboard, computer data storage, sound and graphics cards, and more.
They design, test, and manage manufacturing of computer hardware. Their
average salary ranges from $71,007 to $113,337 and jobs in this field
are expected to grow by 6% from 2018 to 2028. Most computer hardware
designer jobs require a bachelor’s degree in computer hardware
engineering. Other related bachelor’s degrees, like computer science and
electrical engineering, are also acceptable, especially if you earn
certifications in hardware engineering. It also helps to build skills in
engineering and board design, as well as programming languages like
Verilgo, C, and C++.
Computer Information Researcher
Computer information researchers evaluate existing computing
technologies and improve them in order to solve problems in
organizations. They work in industries like business, science and
medicine, and they can specialize in robotics, data science or
programming. Computer information researchers earn $99,686 to $148,158
annually and jobs in this field are expected to grow by 16% from 2018 to
2028. It is best to earn a master’s degree in computer science,
information technology, or a related field if you are interested in a
career in computer information research. You should also build your
skills in software development, machine learning, data analysis,
programming languages Java and C, and UNIX.
Computer Programmer
Computer programmers write and test the codes that make software,
computer applications, and computer programs work. Programmers make
between $51,236 and $134,630 annually, but jobs in this field are
expected to decrease by 7% between 2018 and 2028. Most computer
programmers need to earn some type of degree in computer science,
information technology, mathematics, or a related field. Most employers
will hire those with associate’s degrees, but prefer bachelor’s or
master’s candidates. In addition to higher education, if you want to be
a computer programmer, you should build your skills in Linux, Java,
JavaScript, C++, ASP.NET, C#, SQL, HTML, PHP, and Visual Basic. The more
programming languages you know, the better.
Data Scientist
Data scientists analyze data to address problems. They are in charge of
collecting and organizing data, and then use programming languages and
software tools to visualize that data, identify important patterns, and
propose solutions to the organizations they work for. Data scientists
make a median salary of $90,070 and jobs in this field are expected to
grow at a rate of 9% between 2018 and 2028. Most data scientists have
their bachelor’s degree, and many have a master’s degree too. If you’re
interested in a career in data science, you should build your skills in
big data analytics, Java, machine learning, Hadoop, Python, data mining,
data warehouse creation,SAS, SQL, and R.
Database Administrator
Database administrators are in charge of maintaining databases for
companies and governments in order to store and protect information such
as financial records, purchase histories and customer details. Database
administrators are involved in backing up, restoring, and
troubleshooting the database. They also ensure the information stored in
the database remains private and secure. Salaries range from $53,292 to
$90,167, and job availability is expected to grow at a rate of 9% from
2018 to 2028. Most database administrator jobs require a bachelor’s
degree in database administration, computer science, management
information systems or a related field. More advanced positions require
a master’s degree. If you are interested in a career in database
administration, you should build your skills in SQL, UNIX, Linux,
Oracle, the Windows Operating System, data analysis, Microsoft Access,
and HTML.
Health Information Technician
Health information technicians are in charge of collecting, managing and
protecting patient data for hospitals, insurance companies, government
agencies and more. They can also work with software companies to design
systems to collect and store patient data. Salaries range from an
average of $40,350 to $99,730 annually, and job availability is expected
to grow by 13% by 2026. Employers generally require certifications or an
associate degree. Education in the following fields is also helpful in
getting a job as a health information technician: medical coding, health
information technology, medical transcription, nursing, and radiology.
Health information technicians should have experience with financial
information, medical terminology, software management, medical data
entry, computer software support, attention to detail, regulatory
compliance, and interpersonal communication.
Information Security Analyst
Information security analysts work for corporations, governments,
nonprofits, and other organizations to ensure that digital information
is protected. They update software and recommend security updates in
order to prevent hackers from accessing the organizational information.
Their average salary ranges from $59,073 to $92,546, and jobs are
expected to grow by 32% by 2028. Most information security analysts are
required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but
some have their associate’s degree or certifications. You can make your
resume stand out by gaining work experience through internships and
earning specialized certifications, like certified information systems
security professional and certified ethical hacker. You should also
build your skills in tableau software, cybersecurity, network security
management, security testing and auditing, IT security and
infrastructure, project management, and security risk management.
Software Developer
Software developers design and create computer programs. They test
software and write code. Their average salary ranges from $61,140 to
$90,573, and jobs are expected to grow by 22% by 2029. If you are
interested in pursuing a career in software development, you should earn
your bachelor’s degree in software development or a related field, like
computer science or computer programming. You should also gain
experience through internships and earn certifications in Microsoft,
Amazon Software Services, Cloudera, and Oracle. You should also build
your skills in asp.net, JavaScript, Java, C#, and Python.
Web Designer
Web designers use their creativity and technological skills to design
websites for corporations, nonprofit organizations, governments, and any
other groups that need a website. Their average salary ranges from
$44,000 to $61,000, and jobs in this field are growing at a rate just
over 8%. Most jobs for web designers require an associate’s degree, and
you can also pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees and web
design-related certifications. If you’re interested in a career in web
design, you should build your skills in user interface design, HTML,
JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets, graphic design, and Adobe
Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
