The volume of digital information generated daily by internal and external business operations is swamping the pool of talent with the expertise to collect, analyze and organize it. These reams of data have the potential to drive decision-making and shape relationships with customers, investors and partners.
As a result, having computer science skills can provide access to high-growth, well-paying roles in sectors ranging from telecommunications and utilities to consumer products and banking.
What Is Driving Demand for Computer Scientists?
As companies move data collection and management from in-house servers to flexible, scalable cloud-based platforms, they can generate large volumes of complex digital information.
All that raw information contributes to a significant market advantage for companies that can mine it for intelligence. With the right data insights, businesses can streamline and innovate processes, reduce risks, lower operating costs and achieve scalability.
The competition for the digital talent gap is pressuring companies to develop human resources, compensation and benefits strategies that “attract and retain the specialized engineering talent required to operate in the cloud,” according to McKinsey & Co.
What Are the Career Prospects for Computer Scientists?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 22% employment growth in the computer and information research vertical through 2030. The median annual salary for professionals with a computer science master’s degree is approximately $127,000.
Completing the coursework in online Master of Science in Computer Science programs, such as the one offered by Norfolk State University (NSU), offers preparation for a number of roles including:
- Cloud computing experts design, develop and deploy systems that migrate digital services from servers, databases, hardware and software to the web-based cloud to scale analytics and intelligence. Salaries average $127,000 per year for cloud computing professionals, according to Payscale.
- Software developers innovate applications and programs and optimize computer-system operations. The role holds the No. 1 spot for Best Technology Jobs by S. News & World Report. BLS predicts a sustained 22% job growth through 2030 for software developers and reports a 2020 median yearly salary of $107,000.
- IT Managers hold the No. 3 position in the S. News & World Report survey. They plan, coordinate and direct activities in the digital realm. The BLS reports the median annual salary for computer and information systems managers was $151,000 in 2020, projecting job growth at 11% through 2030.
- Computer systems analysts evaluate digital collection, organization and analytics and develop solutions to optimize telecommunications, information and software systems. Ranked No. 5 in the S. News & World Report survey, the computer systems analyst job category is projected to see a 7% growth rate, according to BLS, which reported a median salary of $94,000 per year in 2020.
- Database administrators create systems that organize, store, secure and distribute digital information. Ranking No. 7 on the S. News & World Report list of Top 10 technology jobs, the database administrator category can expect a job growth rate of 8% through 2030, with a median yearly salary of $99,000 reported in 2020 by BLS.
- Software engineers design, develop and test software to solve specific problems for customers. They build the needed functionality into software programs based on customer requirements and make refinements based on feedback from testers. Payscale places the average salary for software engineers at $88,540 per year, as of 2022.
What Expertise Comes From Earning a Master’s in Computer Science?
The Norfolk State M.S. in Computer Science equips graduates for high-demand careers through studies focused on cloud computing concepts; simulation systems for gaming, military, health and other applications; and software development and architecture, object-oriented programming and big data.
The Norfolk State computer science program holds the No. 7 spot in the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It is a gold medalist in the Military Friendly rankings for its “outstanding signature academic programs, innovative research, and community engagement opportunities.”
Educational excellence, an affordable tuition schedule and coursework that builds expertise required in high-demand professions make a Norfolk State online M.S. in Computer Science a desirable option for forward-looking professionals.
Learn more about Norfolk State University’s online M.S. in Computer Science.
