Career: Computer Scientists

Imagine a time when computers didn’t impact our daily lives. Now imagine new ways that computers will influence our lives in the future. How can they make your life easier, safer, healthier, and richer? Computer scientists are searching for the answers.

Computer scientists are thinkers, designers, architects, and innovators. In a world where success is measured by speed, efficiency, and access, computer scientists are inventing new languages, tools, and methods so that computers will continue to enhance our lives in new ways.

Computer scientists come up with new ways of improving computers. They often work on a more abstract level than other computer professionals.

“You can't know in advance what's going to work out or who you'll be working with, but the more things you're ready for and willing to try, the better off you're likely to be.”

Brian Kernighan, Professor of Computer Science,
Princeton University

Are You Ready To...?

• Invent new ways for humans and machines to communicate
• Earn an advanced degree to achieve greater expertise in your field
• Specialize in robotics, virtual reality, programming languages, or another area
• Work as part of a team

It Helps to Be...

A logical thinker and a good communicator. You may have great ideas, but often you’ll work as part of a team and you’ll need to convince others why your ideas will work.

Make High School Count

• Take as much advanced math as your high school offers.
• Make the most of your science classes. They train you to think logically.
• Sign up for computer science classes. If your high school doesn’t offer any, look into summer classes for precollege students at local two- or four-year colleges.
• Keep up with the latest computer technology news, and read about the industries that excite you the most.
• Consider summer programs in computer science like MIT’s Women’s Technology Program.

Did You Know?

• Some computer scientists work as part of a university team to design robots.

Outlook

Government economists expect jobs for computer scientists to grow much faster than the average for all professions through 2014. Computer scientists must continue to innovate to meet new demands, from the urgent need for “cybersecurity” to the growing needs of electronic commerce.

Compensation

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary of research computer and information scientists was $96,440 in 2006.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers in 2005 averaged $50,820 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science; $46,189 for those with a degree in computer systems analysis; $44,417 for those with a degree in management information systems; and $44,775 for those with a degree in information sciences and systems.