Computer Science

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information 

 

Walters State Community College offers an Associate of Science degree in Computer Science.  This degree is designed to fulfill freshman and sophomore level course requirements of a bachelor’s degree; however, the curriculum is not specific for any one college or university.  Students will need to consult a faculty advisor at WSCC or an advisor at the intended transfer institution for particular courses needed at an individual school. 

Department of Computer Science: http://www.ws.edu/teched/cis/default.asp.

 

Career and Major Information:

 

Computer programmers tell the computer what to do.  They write, test, and maintain detailed instructions that computers follow to function.  They solve problems by designing and testing logical structures using the computer.  Some complex programs may take up to a year to write, and several programmers may be involved in the project.  Sixty percent of programmers in 2000 held at least a bachelor’s degree.

 

Systems analysts solve computer problems and enable companies to use their computer systems efficiently.  Systems analysts assess companies’ computer needs and recommend hardware and software specific to individual situations.  They diagnose problems, recommend solutions, and determine if needs have been met.

 

Computer scientists work as theorists.  They apply high levels of theory and innovation to complex problems to create or apply new technology.  They may work in robotics, virtual reality, or development of knowledge-based systems or games. 

 

Database administrators work with database management systems to store and organize data.  They may be accountable for security measures.  They are responsible for ensuring performance and adding new users.

 

Related Career Titles:

 

Accountant	Information Scientist
Research Analyst	Actuary
Operations Research Analyst	Cost Estimator
Systems Programmer	Computer Consultant
Physicist	Cryptographer
Teacher/Math/Computers	Computer Engineer
Data Control Administrator	Robotics Programmer
Applications Programmer	Data Processing Manager
Technical Writer	Satellite Communications Specialist
Mathematician	Software Development Specialist
Artificial Intelligence Programmer	Astronomer
Underwriter	Computer Scientist
Statistician	Biometrician
Network Programmer	Systems Analyst

 

Web Sites:

 

Techies - a huge job database and resume posting site http://www.techies.com

 

Jobs for programmers - 6000 employers http://www.prgjobs.com 

 

IT Careers.com http://itcareers.careercast.com/texis/js?&lookid=it 

 

Occupational Outlook Handbook (system analysts, computer scientists, database administrators) http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos042.htm 

Occupational Outlook Handbook (computer programmers) www.bls.gov/oco/ocos110.htm

 

Internet Society www.isoc.org 

Association for Women in Computing www.awc-hq.org 

Independent Computer Consultants Association www.icca.org 

The System Administrators Guild http://sageweb.sage.org 

 

Intelligent Information Systems (IIS) http://www2.renewal-iis.com 

 

Lucent Technologies http://www.lucent.com 

 

Microsoft www.microsoft.com 

 

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/computer.htm

 

Salary Information:

Median annual earnings of computer programmers were $60,290 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $45,960 and $78,140 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,080; the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,860. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer programmers in 2002 were:

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer programming averaged $45,558 a year in 2003.

According to Robert Half International, a firm providing specialized staffing services, average annual starting salaries in 2003 ranged from $51,500 to $80,500 for applications development programmers/analysts, and from $55,000 to $87,750 for software developers. Average starting salaries for mainframe systems programmers ranged from $53,250 to $68,750 in 2003.

Median annual earnings of computer systems analysts were $62,890 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $49,500 and $78,350 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $93,400. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer systems analysts in 2002 were as follows:

Median annual earnings of database administrators were $55,480 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $40,550 and $75,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,910. In 2002, median annual earnings of database administrators employed in computer system design and related services were $66,650, and, for those in management of companies and enterprises, earnings were $59,620.

Median annual earnings of network systems and data communication analysts were $58,420 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $44,850 and $74,290. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,880, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,110. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of network systems and data communications analysts in 2002 were as follows:

Median annual earnings of computer and information scientists, research, were $77,760 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $58,630 and $98,490. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,890, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,650. Median annual earnings of computer and information scientists employed in computer systems design and related services in 2002 were $78,730.

Median annual earnings of all other computer specialists were $54,070 in 2002. Median annual earnings of all other computer specialists employed in computer system design and related services were $49,590, and, for those in scientific research and development services, earnings were $70,150 in 2002.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting offers for graduates with a master’s degree in computer science averaged $62,806 in 2003. Starting offers averaged $47,109 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science; $45,346 for those with a degree in computer programming; $41,118 for those with a degree in computer systems analysis; $40,556 for those with a degree in management information systems; and $38,282 for those with a degree in information sciences and systems.

According to Robert Half International, starting salaries in 2003 ranged from $69,750 to $101,750 for database administrators. Salaries for networking and Internet-related occupations ranged from $45,500 to $65,750 for LAN administrators and from $51,250 to $73,750 for Intranet developers. Starting salaries for security professionals ranged from $62,500 to $91,750 in 2003.

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Computer Programmers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos110.htm