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Top Jobs for Graduates With a Computer Science Degree

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: April 9, 2024, Reading time: 7 minutes

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Due to technological evolution, the computer science field has been greatly expanded in recent years. Unfortunately, many computer science enthusiasts do not know about relevant career paths due to a lack of knowledge.

To provide career clarity, we have discovered the top jobs for graduates with a computer science degree. It will help you make the right career decision based on your interests and skills.

College Cliffs is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Top Jobs for Graduates With a Computer Science Degree

Here are the best computer science jobs you can consider after earning a relevant degree that will help you build a fulfilling career. 

A laptop with codes

Software Developer

As a software developer, you are supposed to work with software engineers, IT experts, and graphics designers. You must collaborate with these professionals to create new applications for different purposes.

Software engineers assess user needs to develop new programs. These applications can be used in different sectors such as business, education, healthcare, and many more. Furthermore, software engineers also identify and fix glitches that can occur in programs. 

The average annual salary of a software engineer is $90,981

Database Developer

As a data enthusiast, the position of database developer can be the perfect fit for you. Database developers are known as database programmers. They have to maintain and design computer systems to keep data organized and make it easily accessible. 

While working in this position, your major responsibility will be to make your organization’s database run smoothly. If any error occurs in the system, you have to troubleshoot it and fix it. Also, you have to keep an eye on data security, set user permissions, and maintain data backups.

The average annual salary of a database developer is $102,948.

IT Project Manager

The evolution of the IT industry has created many employment opportunities for computer science degree holders. Every IT company requires competent project managers who can keep daily operations on track. 

As an IT project manager, you have to work with your team to achieve the company’s goals and complete ongoing projects successfully. You must have good leadership skills to set good examples upfront for your team and make well-informed decisions for the company’s progress. 

The average annual salary of an IT project manager is $113,676.

Programmer Analyst

Programmers design and create software and computer systems according to the requirements of different industries. 

A software engineer working in front of her laptop

As a programmer analyst, you must work on various industry-specific programs to detect and repair issues. Additionally, you have to work with project managers to meet project deadlines and assess the financial feasibility of the company’s computer systems.

The average annual salary of a programmer analyst is $95,679

Technical Support Engineer

Technical support engineers are also known as IT support engineers. They have to assess and troubleshoot software and hardware issues and provide assistance to customers as a company’s representative. Engineers usually assist clients in person or on the phone.

To become a technical support engineer, you need to develop problem-solving skills to identify and fix the technical issues that occur in computer systems. 

The average annual salary of the technical support engineer is $79,032. 

Front End Developer

If you are interested in website or application development, then choosing a front-end developer position can be the right career choice for you. 

One of the primary responsibilities of front-end developers is to create user-friendly and responsive websites and web applications. They also work with web designers to implement design successfully with code and optimize the website properly.

As a front-end developer, you should be able to detect and fix technical website issues so that the company can attain the desired results. The average annual salary of the front-end developer is $113,329. 

Video Game Developer

Due to the massive video game market demand, plenty of rewarding employment opportunities are available for game developers. These developers create video games by coding that are compatible with different computer systems.

There are different skills required to be a top video game developer. You must be able to conceptualize the design and plot of the game. More importantly, you require good storytelling skills. 

The top programming languages for game development are C++, JavaScript, C#, Java, and Lua, so you must have a good command of these languages. Apart from knowing the relevant programming languages, you should be able to effectively execute your ideas. The average annual salary of game developers is $108,471. 

Systems Analyst

Systems analysts are responsible for maintaining the company’s updated computer systems. They have to constantly check the existing hardware and software to keep running everything properly. 

They may also suggest or create new programs to fulfill the company’s needs more efficiently. As a system analyst, you also have to perform a cost-benefit analysis. It helps to check whether proposed modifications will be beneficial for the company or not. 

The average annual salary of the system analyst is $111,078. 

A woman using multiple monitors and devices on her work table

Java Developer

The Java developers work on Java language to create different types of applications and websites. They must check that the website is well-optimized and authenticates user data. 

As a Java developer, you may also have to modify the website’s design by using the design documents and programming language. You may work as an advisor with the IT team and assist them in resolving technical issues. 

The average annual salary of a Java developer is $92,321.

Information Security Analyst

As an information security analyst, you have a huge responsibility for the safety of your company’s computer networks. You have to protect your organization’s computer networks from possible security breaches. 

You must use the latest software to protect sensitive information and keep an eye on the vulnerabilities of network and computer systems. To succeed in this position, you must be detail-oriented in your work. You should also be able to predict potential threats and take security measures accordingly. 

The average annual salary of an information security analyst is $96,652. 

Business Continuity Analyst

The primary duty of business continuity analysts is to recover the company’s data and resume normal operations in case of any disaster. They create recovery strategies to deal with different losses and high-risk situations. 

As a business continuity analyst, you can also train employees who are working under your command. It enables them to create recovery plans if any serious malfunction occurs. The average annual salary of a business continuity analyst is $74,919. 

Top Skills for Computer Science Professionals

The skills that computer science professionals must harness are:

Eyeglasses placed on a laptop keypad

Here are some questions that computer science degree holders who are planning to build a successful career have in their minds.

What Are the Highest-Paid Jobs in Computer Science?

The highest-paid jobs in computer science are software engineer, front-end developer, video game developer, big data engineer, database developer, many cybersecurity engineers, and machine learning engineer. 

What Are the Top 3 Highest Paying Jobs in IT?

The three highest-paying jobs in IT include software engineer, with an average annual salary of $132,000 to $210,000; product designer, with an average annual salary of $123,000 to $188,000; and data scientist, with an average annual salary of $154,000 to $212,000. To become eligible for these jobs, having a bachelor’s degree is a must. 

How Hard Is Computer Science?

The study of computer science can be challenging for students. Although, investing time and effort can help you accomplish your academic and professional goals. You must harness time management, problem-solving, and technical skills to pursue the computer science degree successfully. 

Conclusion

Computer science is a rewarding field that offers great employment opportunities. Apart from completing a degree, you must focus on earning the required skill set to become a proficient computer science professional. It will make your professional profile strong so that you can become eligible for top positions.