Computer Science Jobs
The field of computer science is a necessary one for our future economy. As more and more tasks become automated, we need people who can create and maintain the programs that lead to this automation. A career in computer science can be a rewarding one given the current state of the computer science job market.
Computer Science is Not...
Computer science is not the same as information technology. Although there are many jobs available in information technology, that is not the focus of a study in computer science. Computer scientists do not repair computers or set up a wireless network, although it is probably to their benefit to know how to do these things. A computer scientist uses programming to solve problems using computers. The problems could range from predicting weather patterns to translating between languages.
Jobs in Computer Science
60% of jobs in STEM fields are in computer science, but only two percent of college graduates earn computer science majors. Computer science majors can go into a variety of careers that you can see at PayScale. Computer scientists can become data analysts, programmers (software engineers), database developers, network architects, and project managers. Most computer scientists major in computer science in college, but a few major in mathematics.
While a college degree is strongly encouraged to go into computer science, it is possible to get a job without one. If you have a good portfolio of work you have done posted on a site like GitHub that you can refer to when applying for a job it is possible to get into the field. However, if the gap between computer science jobs and candidates starts to close it may become even more necessary to obtain a computer science degree.
