Mohammad Jamili

Professor Atashi
CS1030-402
August 2, 2016
The Top Ten Computer Science Careers

What makes on career better than another? Its hard to answer that question
objectively because there are many variables in that equation that you cant formulate it
accurately. Event the variables have sub-variables such as the salary statistics of one
job over another. Many can agree that more money is better but what about choosing
between two jobs- one having a higher starting salary but marginal room for a salary
raise in the future versus one that initially pays less than the first one but has a lot of
earning potential in the future? Such a question would have people choosing one or the
other. Would we want a job that was easy to get or one that was challenging enough to
incite a sense of accomplishment?
These are all questions that anyone who is looking for a career should ask
themselves, because everybody has unique preferences.I've compiled a list of
Computer Science oriented careers and have made categories for each one. These
categories include a job description, requisite training, work environment, advancement,
salary figures and job statistics. I've put these measures in place to engage the reader
and encourage them to make an informed decision on which one of these careers suit
them the best. Some of these career fields have distinctive career paths within them

such as the manager field which can contain IT managers, software project manager
etc.
Computer and info systems managers popularly referred to as project IT managers.
These individuals hold a lot of responsibility within the organizations that employ them.
In short the coordinate and plan technology related activities within an organization.
With an emphasis on long-term organizational goals. Their duties include but are not
limited to auditing their companies information systems and recommending major
upgrades for top executives to consider, managing or collaborating with various types of
IT professionals, implementing new technology in facilities to ensure efficiency in the
work process.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 348,000 jobs in 2014
and industries that hire these individual include computer systems firms at 20% and
financial institutions at 11%. Few managers work remotely and about 2 in 5 work more
than 40 hours (BLS 2015).
In order to be a project manager, one is expected to have at least a bachelors degree
related to computer science, and an emphasis on business or management is desirable.
It is not uncommon for companies to require a graduate degree, with masters in
business being the standard. Like most management positions in the job market, it is
not an entry level position, this title is earned with hard work, dedication, and creativity.
Generally, it can take a professional 5-10 years with related experience to achieve.
Consistency is important when seeking advancement into this position. It is highly
recommended that an applicant the has experience that translates well into this
position. If an applicant has been proficient in security than it is suggested that they

pursue this position with an emphasis in security. Advancement within this career field
usually starts with being a lower level manager. Exhibiting superior skills can advance
someone to become a senior manager and subsequently an executive such as a chief
information officer and chief technology officer. important qualities to have in this field
include Analytical, business, communication, decision making, leadership, organization
skills. Median annual wage for info system managers was 131,600 in 2015. Job growth
is expected to rise by 15% by 2024 (BLS 2015).
Software developers or developers, not to be confused with programmers are the
brainpower behind computer programs. Their work vastly ranges from creating
applications to conceiving systems that run devices and networks. Their duties usually
include rendering each part of an application or program and construct a way for it to
work together. They also advise programmers how to write certain software code.
Developers are involved in the entire development of a software program. Developers
determine how to meet the needs of the user, but also the performance requirements of
the software itself. The majority developers work for organizations that design computer
systems and software publishers, but its not uncommon for the to work for
manufacturing firms.

Developers usually need a bachelors, the most common

being a computer science degree. The most important facet being a robust
understanding of software and programming subject matter. Staying current on new
protocols and industry trends are very important to this field. Advancement in this field
can lead to becoming a project manager- who oversees the development of software
from subordinate developers.

According to BLS being detail oriented and creative are

crucial in this field. The annual average pay for software developers in 2015 was
$98,260 with 1.3 million jobs in 2014 and is expected in 2024 by 17% (BLS 2015).
Computer network architects build and design communications between networks
utilizing their vast knowledge of organizational planning to create network that can
assist organization to achieve it long term and short term goals. Their duties include
planning and laying blueprints for data networks, advising management on best
practices for the security, efficiency, and integrity of a network and also implementing
the latest network procedures. A bachelors in computer science is highly favored with an
emphasis on network theory, security, and database design curriculum. A masters
degree in business is also becoming more common in this field. 5 to 10 years in a
related field is the norm. Popular prerequisite positions that successful applicant
typically had are: database administrator, network administrators, and network analyst.
Average annual pay was 100,290 in 2015 with a current job outlook of 146,200 and
expected growth of 9% by 2024 (BLS 2015).
Information security analyst are responsible for the safety of an organizations
computers and network systems. They usually do this by monitoring these systems for
any violations of the stated policy, installing software or hardware that prevents access
to intruders like firewalls or encryption. These individuals are also known to educate end
users on safe computer usage as well as conduct penetration tests on their own
networks in order to evaluate the security of them. Cyber attacks are becoming more
prevalent, it is expected that a security analyst is up to date on new measures and
trends to recognize and prevent new threats(Ackerman). Security analysts are also

trained in responding to networks being compromised and to take the best preventive
steps to minimize damage and loss.
Becoming a security analyst usually requires a bachelors degree in computer science
or similar. The applicant is expected to emphasize security procedural knowledge and
subject matter expertise. Industry certifications such as the CompTIA Security+ are
very desirable to employers because it measures competency in a relatively new field.
Many security analysts were network or systems administrators at one point. The
annual average earning for security analysts in 2015 was $90,120, where there were
about 82,900 jobs, which is said to increase by 18% in 2024 (BLS 2015).
Network and Computer systems administrators manage a company network by
assessing hardware and software needs, installing devices and managing user
inquiries. Ensuring that networks are in optimal condition is a major responsibility these
administrators. System administrators can also assist network architects to render and
audit networks . Usually, an industry certificate alone can suffice, such as the CompTIA
Network+, but employers requiring a bachelors degree in CS or similar is starting to
become much more common. A systems analyst who demonstrates superior analytical,
problem-solving, and communication skill can seek advancement as an information
security analyst and even a network architect. Average annual pay in 2015 for this
position was $77,810 with 382,000 jobs and expected growth of 8% by 2024 (BLS
2015).
Database administrators are administrators that utilize special software to organize
and store data. This data can consist of many different things from shipping records to
financial reports. Their duties include auditing data security, preventing data loss and

implementing methods for accommodating the needs of users, as well as archiving old
databases and merging them with newer more comprehensive ones. Database
administrators ensure that analysts can easily utilize their databases to find the specific
information that needs. They often require a bachelors degree but less than 5 years of
experience is fine. A masters degree in a CS-related field and an emphasis on database
theory is also highly desirable. Knowledge of database language is a must. These
administrators are often employed by financial institutions, marketing firms, and
research establishments. The average annual pay in 2015 for database administrators
was 81,710 with 120,000 jobs and an expected growth of 11% (BLS 2015).
Programmers are individuals who implement and apply codes that enable software
programs and applications to work correctly. They make program components that are
usually designed by engineers or developers into commands that a computer can
execute. Their duties include troubleshooting and correcting code using various
programming languages such as Java and Python. While many programmers have
bachelors degrees in CS or similar, it is not a common necessity for employers.
Conversely, experience in coding is highly desirable. According to Awan, A hands-on
internship is a relatively good starting point for a career in programming (Awan 2014).
Programming certificates are generally proprietary to the program developers but are
also very useful in the job market. Advancement opportunities to programmers include
software developer, computer analyst and information system management.According
to Mark Hughes of the Telegraph, Programers earned $79,530 average annually but
are facing an 8% decline by 2020 due to outsourcing this skill to there countries(Hughes
2013).

Web developers design and construct online sites, ensuring that the cosmetic and
functional aspects of the website are optimized to run at efficient performance and
capacity. Additional duties of web developer usually include consulting with clients about
technical need and design preferences, writing code for the websites and consolidation
of audio, graphics and video within the site along with monitoring web traffic. Examples
of roles within this field include webmaster, front-end developer, and back-end
developer. Webmaster maintains sites by updating or testing, front-ends design the
aesthetic part of the site, and back-ends design the technical structures of the site.
Whereas other computer science related fields are leaning toward bachelors degrees
as a requirement, web developers are usually expected to just have an associates
degree relating to the field. The most common being web design and of course
computer science. Having a comprehensive understanding of HTML along with a sound
foundation if programming languages like Javascript and SQL are often required.
Knowledge of graphic design is also suggested. A web developer is considered an entry
level job, although advancement into another programming related jobs is very
common. Annual averages for web developers in 2015 were $65,000 and a massive
growth of 27% by 2024 (BLS 2015).
Computer support specialists or better know as tech support of help desk technicians
are individuals who advise and assist end users in their organization with their computer
and network problems. Their duties include auditing and reviewing computer systems,
maintenance procedures for hardware, diagnosing technical problems. These
individuals are often the first line of support for an organization's non-IT personnel. They
can be considered a liaison between the end-users and the IT department of many

companies, which is why they are called help desk technicians sometimes. Support
specialist area of expertise are the computers and networks that can be found in our
homes or offices, which are generally smaller networks than ones that network
administrators would be involved in (Gibson 2014).
Considered by many to be a gateway to a career in the computer science field, it is
an entry that level position that occasionally might require a bachelors degree(Gibson
2014). But an associates degree or an industry certificate such as the CompTIA A+
should translate well into experience for this position. Also, experience in customer
service is valuable to employers, because much of this work requires interaction with
non-IT end users and their desktops. Average annual pay for this position in 2015 was
$51,000 and expected growth is 12% by 2024.

Computer science is among the fastest growing and in-demand fields in our nation's
economy, its the innovative culture of this industry that helps other industries such as
healthcare and finance grow rapidly as well. Advancements in technology have affected
our society as a whole as we venture through the Information Age- there are those who
behold and those who initiate and collaborate together for the advancement of our
species through our desire to accomplish tasks efficiently, stay connected, and satisfy
our complex curiosities.We maybe limited by the technology of our time but we are
always striving to develop. These are the professionals at the forefront of this agenda.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,

2016-17 Edition, Software Developers,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/
software-developers.htm (visited August 03, 2016).
Hughes, Mark. "Computer Programmer 'outsourced Job to China'" The Telegraph.
Telegraph Media Group, 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 04 Aug. 2016.
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Gibson, Darril. Effective Help Desk Specialist Skills. Indianapolis: Pearson, 2014. Print.
Ackerman, Robert K. "Destructive Cyber Attacks Increase in Frequency, Sophistication."
SIGNAL Magazine. AFCEA.org, 29 June 2015. Web. 04 Aug. 2016.
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Awan, Wasim. "Importance of Internships in Computer Science." Meritaleem.com.
Meritaleem, 8 Nov. 2014. Web. 4 Aug. 2016.
/.latest_citation_text