Top 10 Computer Science Careers in 2023 - Columbia Engineering Boot Camps (2024)

A computer scientist implements innovative technology that enables an organization to operate more efficiently. An individual in this role administers the entire computer development life cycle, developing software and hardware, researching and experimenting with new solutions, and optimizing and updating systems when the need arises. A computer scientist also works with the entire tech team — from data scientists to product managers — to maximize systems and procedures.

One current example of how a computer scientist operates is the work of Eleazar Eskin, who is part of a team at the University of California, Los Angeles. Eskin’s team has developed a new COVID-19 test known as SwabSeq, which is reportedly faster than previous methods. According to Eskin, SwabSeg is also “highly scalable,” enabling smaller labs to process thousands of samples per day.

The median salary for computer scientists sits at around $91,472, according to Burning Glass. Currently, there is a projected 9.3 percent increase in the need for computer scientists over the next decade.

A data analyst gathers, cleans, models, and interprets data to solve a problem or answer a question. The list below breaks down a general approach to data analysis:

• Gathering: Collecting data through surveys or tracking various metrics.
• Cleaning: Removing duplicate data or errors, thus minimizing the chance that conclusions will be incorrect or skewed.
• Modeling: Structuring the database by selecting which types of data need to be gathered and stored, while establishing relationships between different categories within the database.
• Interpreting: Discerning patterns within data that will answer the question or solve the problem initially presented.

In addition, the data analyst also presents their findings to other interested parties, whether through data visualizations or reports.

Burning Glass data indicates that data analysts earn a median annual salary of $73,279 as of May 2020. There is expected to be a 12.3 percent increase in the number of data analysts needed over the next 10 years.

You can check out our blog to learn more about how to become a data analyst in with or without a degree.

Data management and organization are central tasks for a data engineer. They develop an organization’s data analytics infrastructure, enabling them to identify trends that may impact that organization’s goals.

Research is vital to this role. Data engineers examine large data sets and determine how reliability and efficiency can be improved. A key variable is moving data to be modeled and examined most effectively. Data engineers examine data to determine which organizational tasks can be automated, as well as prepare reports for key stakeholders.

“Beyond that, there’s the question of whether the data is correct and questions of data governance, how the data gets shared, how privacy plays into the information that’s being shared and funneled to different places,” David Harris, Senior Product Manager at Udacity, told Dice. “Data engineers really have to understand who’s using the information, what it’s being used for, understanding the risk if it’s inaccurate or not updated. There’s a lot to think about.”

According to Burning Glass, data engineers earn a median annual salary of $111,435. Demand for this role is expected to increase by 20.8 percent over the next 10 years.

A business analyst operates at the intersection of IT and business, making data-driven recommendations to upper management after using various metrics to assess products, systems, services, and processes. They must weigh these recommendations against the costs of implementing them.

Jeffrey Hammond, Vice President and Principal Analyst at the research and advisory firm Forrester Research, told CIO that a business analyst’s role “revolves around defining requirements and prioritizing requirements and getting feedback and approval on requirements.” Determining the necessity and feasibility of a pivot is crucial.

Robert Half Technology noted that a comprehensive business analysis will summarize a company’s problems, as well as the potential solutions. A plan will be mapped out, along with the pricing and budgeting for that plan. Additionally, a business analyst will monitor the plan as it is carried out and report back to stakeholders.

The bottom line is that business analysts must identify issues and prioritize solutions, which must be backed by the data they have analyzed.

Burning Glass estimates the median annual salary for business analysts to be $79,789, and forecasts a 5.9 percent increase in demand over the next decade.

The data architect works in concert with the data engineer, serving as visionary — i.e., discerning patterns in various data sets, visualizing an organization’s digital framework, and creating a blueprint that the data engineer can follow in building that framework.

Versatility is also vital for data architects, as they must not only engage in this sort of big-picture thinking but also be aware of end users’ day-to-day issues. Effective communication with these parties, as well as those at the executive level, is crucial.

Data architects earn a median annual salary of $107,689, according to Burning Glass. Demand for these professionals is expected to climb by 12.1 percent over the rest of the decade.

Web developers use a client-server model — a type of architecture that enables servers and devices to share resources — to develop apps. There are three general types of developers:

• Front End Developer: Those who develop a website’s user interface side, using HTML and CSS for the visual presentation or JavaScript for interactive features.
• Back End Developer: Those responsible for creating and maintaining the components of a website unseen by the user — the server, application, and database.
• Full Stack Developer: Those who develop front and back end processes. In other words, a full stack developer creates software for the user and server, and they can program the browser, server, and database.

Burning Glass notes that the demand for web developers, who earn a median annual salary of $91,938, will increase by 8.4 percent over the next 10 years.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a web developer, explore this guide that gives more information about education, careers, and salaries in this field.

Unlike a web developer who is responsible for the front end functionality of a website, a web designer possesses the creative skills to give any given site its look. Web designers master tools that enable them to create award-winning visuals for sites, like that of a museum commemorating the 20th anniversary of Xbox, or one that touts a peer-to-peer selling network.

Moreover, web designers will continually be in demand — given the challenge each site faces in standing out from the competition. Statista notes that people around the world spend around 155 minutes a day on their smartphones and another 37 minutes on their desktop computers. It falls on web designers to create graphics that are eye-catching enough to pull in users or potential customers.

The demand for web designers, who earn a median annual salary of $61,188, will increase by 6.9 percent over the next 10 years, according to Burning Glass.

Software developers operate within a business’s IT team, developing and designing an organization’s software products. This includes producing code, helping in the design of algorithms, deploying programs, troubleshooting systems, and a host of other responsibilities.

Software developers typically work in computer systems/design and in fields like finance, insurance, engineering, and manufacturing. They earn a median salary of $98,776 as noted by Burning Glass, which also predicts a 17.3 percent increase in demand for software developers over the next decade.

As with other positions in the sector, computer programmers have many responsibilities, but the biggest is writing code. Jenny Wem, of the London-based software company DataSine Ltd., said in an interview with JAXenter that there is “a lot of personal satisfaction to be gained from writing clean, maintainable code that fellow developers will be able to understand and build upon.” She added that it “will save a business time and money in the long run.”

This fact underscores the collaborative nature of the position — especially how programmers work closely with software developers. Moreover, programmers secure and update programs or rewrite them for other operating systems.

Programmers earn a median annual salary of $76,267, according to Burning Glass. Unlike other positions in the sector, the demand for them is expected to decrease over the next 10 years, by around nine percent

Jake Sisskind, a business intelligence analyst for Avon, a cosmetics retailer, describes his job as one in which he examines data trends and determines their relevance.

“How is the data different from yesterday?” he said in an interview with TechRepublic. “Or year-over-year? How will the data impact the business in the future, or in the present? Are there any necessary immediate changes to put into effect?”

This underscores the difference between a business intelligence analyst’s job and that of the business analyst. While the business intelligence analyst collects data from the past and present, the business analyst takes the information and helps executives make informed decisions for the future.

Burning Glass projects a 10.4 percent increase in demand for business intelligence analysts over the next 10 years. They earn a median annual salary of $87,175.