Computer Science Jobs: What Can You Do With the Degree?

One of the reasons computer science is so popular is that it opens a lot of doors. The degree is not training for a single job. It teaches a way of thinking about problems that applies across software, data, security, research and far beyond the technology sector.

The main career paths

A few roles take the largest share of computer science graduates:

• Software developer: designing and building the applications and systems people use. This is the most common destination and one of the largest occupations in the field.
• Data scientist and analyst: finding patterns in data and building the models behind them, a fast-growing area tied to artificial intelligence.
• Information security analyst: protecting systems and data from attack, one of the fastest-growing roles of all.
• Systems analyst and IT manager: designing how an organisation’s systems fit together, and running the teams that build them.
• Computer and information research scientist: pushing the field forward through research, usually with a master’s degree or PhD.

Beyond these, the degree leads into finance, consulting, games, research and almost any field that now runs on software.

How strong is the market?

Very strong, on the current evidence. In the United States, overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2024 to 2034. Some roles are growing faster still: information security analysts are projected to grow 29 percent, and computer research scientists 20 percent, over that period. Pay reflects the demand, which we cover on our computer science salary page.

None of this makes a good job automatic. Employers increasingly want practical experience and a portfolio alongside the degree, and the best-paid roles are competitive. But few subjects combine this level of demand, pay and range of options.