Computer science is the study of algorithms and problem solving. These problems apply to every scientific, engineering, and mathematical field, making computer scientists relevant in every professional field today.
Position Title | Projected Growth (2014-2024) | Preparation Required | 2015 Median Wage |
---|---|---|---|
Accountants
Position Description:Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$75,280 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $75,280 per year |
Actuaries
Position Description:Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$110,560 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $110,560 per year |
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
Position Description:Operate, install, calibrate, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Projected Growth:
Slower than average (2% to 4%)
Median Pay:
$68,620 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 4 | $68,620 per year |
Air Traffic Controllers
Position Description:Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$118,740 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 3
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 3 | $118,740 per year |
Astronomers
Position Description:Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
Projected Growth:
Slower than average (2% to 4%)
Median Pay:
$110,220 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 5 | $110,220 per year |
Auditors
Position Description:Examine and analyze accounting records to determine financial status of establishment and prepare financial reports concerning operating procedures.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$75,280 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $75,280 per year |
Compensation and Benefits Managers
Position Description:Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$121,630 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $121,630 per year |
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Position Description:Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$115,580 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 5 | $115,580 per year |
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Position Description:Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$141,000 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $141,000 per year |
Computer Hardware Engineers
Position Description:Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$114,970 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $114,970 per year |
Computer Network Architects
Position Description:Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$103,100 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $103,100 per year |
Computer Network Support Specialists
Position Description:Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$67,260 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $67,260 per year |
Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic
Position Description:Develop programs to control machining or processing of metal or plastic parts by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$51,630 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 3
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 3 | $51,630 per year |
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Position Description:Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$84,700 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 5 | $84,700 per year |
Computer Systems Analysts
Position Description:Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$90,180 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $90,180 per year |
Computer Systems Analysts
Position Description:Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$90,180 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $90,180 per year |
Credit Authorizers
Position Description:Authorize credit charges against customers' accounts.
Projected Growth:
Decline (-2% or lower)
Median Pay:
$37,920 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 3
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Decline (-2% or lower) | Job Zone 3 | $37,920 per year |
Database Administrators
Position Description:Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$84,250 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $84,250 per year |
Database Architects
Position Description:Design strategies for enterprise database systems and set standards for operations, programming, and security. Design and construct large relational databases. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.
Projected Growth:
Slower than average (2% to 4%)
Median Pay:
$87,310 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 4 | $87,310 per year |
Economists
Position Description:Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$109,230 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 5 | $109,230 per year |
Hydrologists
Position Description:Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation, its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and its return to the ocean and atmosphere.
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$83,440 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 4 | $83,440 per year |
Investment Fund Managers
Position Description:Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.
Projected Growth:
Slower than average (2% to 4%)
Median Pay:
$111,230 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 5 | $111,230 per year |
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Position Description:Research market conditions in local, regional, or national areas, or gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or create a marketing campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$70,030 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $70,030 per year |
Physicists
Position Description:Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$118,500 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 5 | $118,500 per year |
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
Position Description:Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$68,240 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 4 | $68,240 per year |
Quality Control Analysts
Position Description:Conduct tests to determine quality of raw materials, bulk intermediate and finished products. May conduct stability sample tests.
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$48,360 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 3
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 3 | $48,360 per year |
Risk Management Specialists
Position Description:Analyze and manage risk management issues by identifying, measuring, and making decisions on operational or enterprise risks for an organization.
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$72,480 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 4 | $72,480 per year |
Robotics Engineers
Position Description:Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.
Projected Growth:
Slower than average (2% to 4%)
Median Pay:
$98,150 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 4 | $98,150 per year |
Securities and Commodities Traders
Position Description:Buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.
Projected Growth:
Faster than average (9% to 13%)
Median Pay:
$102,860 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $102,860 per year |
Software Developers, Applications
Position Description:Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$102,160 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $102,160 per year |
Software Developers, Applications
Position Description:Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$102,160 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $102,160 per year |
Software Developers, Systems Software
Position Description:Research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, scientific, and general computing applications. Set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements. May design embedded systems software. Apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$108,760 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 4 | $108,760 per year |
Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers
Position Description:Develop and execute software test plans in order to identify software problems and their causes.
Projected Growth:
Slower than average (2% to 4%)
Median Pay:
$87,310 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 4 | $87,310 per year |
Statisticians
Position Description:Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as bio-statistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.
Projected Growth:
Much faster than average (14% or higher)
Median Pay:
$84,440 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 5 | $84,440 per year |
Technical Writers
Position Description:Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$73,350 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 4
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 4 | $73,350 per year |
Urban and Regional Planners
Position Description:Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Projected Growth:
Average (5% to 8%)
Median Pay:
$70,680 per year
Preparation:
Job Zone 5
Position Duties:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 5 | $70,680 per year |
Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
Operate, install, calibrate, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.
Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
Buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.
Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.
Authorize credit charges against customers' accounts.
Design strategies for enterprise database systems and set standards for operations, programming, and security. Design and construct large relational databases. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.
Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.
Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.
Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).
Examine and analyze accounting records to determine financial status of establishment and prepare financial reports concerning operating procedures.
Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation, its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and its return to the ocean and atmosphere.
Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.
Research market conditions in local, regional, or national areas, or gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or create a marketing campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution.
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.
Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.
Develop programs to control machining or processing of metal or plastic parts by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems.
Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as bio-statistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.
Conduct tests to determine quality of raw materials, bulk intermediate and finished products. May conduct stability sample tests.
Analyze and manage risk management issues by identifying, measuring, and making decisions on operational or enterprise risks for an organization.
Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.
Develop and execute software test plans in order to identify software problems and their causes.
Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.
Research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, scientific, and general computing applications. Set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements. May design embedded systems software. Apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis.
Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
Explore career information and other resources specifically tailored to Computer Science majors.
Career Development Center
A110 Kerr Admin Building, Corvallis, OR 97331
541-737-4085 • Contact Us
Summer Hours:
Mon-Thurs, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.