Launch Your Computer Science Career

What is the Career Outlook for Computer Science and Engineering?

Computer science and engineering are rapidly evolving fields, yet demand is still present. Jobs in computer and information technology are projected to grow about 13% through 2033, accelerating faster than the national average. Research-focused roles such as computer and information research scientists are expected to grow 26%, with median pay near $141K.

What Are the Top Computer Science and Engineering Jobs by Salary?

Cloud engineers, data scientists, and AI developers are among the most sought‑after roles. The rapid adoption of AI‑driven systems, expansion of cloud infrastructure, and growing cybersecurity needs are fueling demand across every sector. Data scientist positions alone are projected to grow 36%-42% over the next decade.

Salaries vary by role, location, and experience, with research‑oriented positions in computer science offering some of the highest median wages. To compare global and regional pay, resources such as SalaryExpert (global) and BLS state‑level data (United States) provide useful benchmarks.

What Companies Are Hiring People with Computer Science Degrees?

Many people immediately think of MAANG and Silicon Valley tech startups when thinking about what companies hire people with computer science degrees. However, these are not the only companies out there. In fact, some MAANG companies don’t rank in the top 10 companies hiring computer scientists.

MAANG: Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google.

Every computing professional has their dream company or university they’d like to work for. Here are a few additional recommendations for companies you can explore for your future role.

• Quantinuum– The largest integrated quantum computing company, developing hardware and software to solve complex global challenges.
• Advantest– A global leader in semiconductor test solutions, providing essential technology for chip development and high‑performance computing.
• Apple– A pioneer in consumer electronics and software, creating hardware and ecosystems that shape how billions interact with technology.
• AWS– The world’s most comprehensive cloud platform, powering applications and infrastructure across industries from startups to enterprises.
• Q-CTRL – A quantum technology company focused on stabilizing quantum systems and building tools for quantum computing and sensing.
• Quantum Machines – Specializes in quantum orchestration platforms that control and scale quantum computers for research and industry.
• Super – A hybrid quantum computing platform combining annealing, gate‑based quantum, and high‑performance computing to tackle complex scientific and industrial challenges.
• Cisco– Networking and cybersecurity giant with global demand for software engineers.
• Siemens– Major player in automation, digital industries, and AI‑driven industrial software.
• IBM– Legacy leader in AI, hybrid cloud, and enterprise solutions (still a top employer).
• Nvidia– Semiconductors, AI, and high‑performance computing powerhouse (beyond just hype, it’s core infrastructure).
• Oracle– Database and enterprise software leader with consistent demand for CS talent.

• Career Guide: How to Determine if You Should Be a Computer Research Scientist
• Software Engineering Podcast on Career Strategy

Hackathons

Hackathons are a great way to learn and grow by building things. Here are a few of our favorites.

• Hosted by IEEE Computer Chapters
  •  Devspace 2022– $14,000+ in prizes
  •  Dev Days 2022– $3,000 in prizes
  •  RIEEE Spring Hackathon: Codeavengers Assemble!– $220 in prizes
• Machine Learning
  •  Microsoft Azure Innovation Challenge – $11,000 in prizes
  •  Filecoin Integration Challenge – $28,000 in prizes
  •  ML Hacks – $2,140 in prizes
• Cybersecurity
  •  Microsoft Identity for All – $10,000 in prizes
  •  Hacking CFTs Challenge – £110 in prizes
• Quantum
  •  Q-munity Hack-Q-Thon – for high school and university students.

Search upcoming hackathons on DevPost. Field areas include fintech, DevOps, IoT, Blockchain, Low Code/No Code, and much more.

Fellowships

Computer science and tech fellowships are an opportunity for students, recent graduates, and graduate students to gain experience in their related fields.

Additionally, fellowships are often paid or provide a stipend. They can also include benefits such as scholarships and funding for your research.

Here are a few fellowships to consider:

• MLH Fellowship – Learn software engineering through open source projects.
• Code2040 Fellows Program – career accelerator for Black and Latinx computer science students.
• Cybersecurity Talent Initiative – up to $75,000 in tuition assistance
• Columbia University Fully Funded PhD Program in Computer Science
• Meta Research PhD Fellowship Program – tuition assistance, stipend, and conference travel scholarship.
• Georgetown University Center for Security and Emerging Technology AI/ML Fellow

Publishing and Sharing your Research

Publishing your research, or future research, in a peer-reviewed journal helps disseminate information and allows the computing community to evaluate your findings.

The IEEE Computer Society publishes 37 journals along with 12 magazines. Here are a few tips to help your research is successfully accepted by a peer-reviewed journal.

• Combatting Common Writing and Publishing Mistakes
• Publishing with the IEEE Computer Society

The exciting aspect of today’s world is that researchers can now promote their work and easily create their online brand from their own devices. Social media is a great way to accomplish this; it’s easy, personable, and fully in your control. We encourage you to be advocates for your own discovery journey, sharing your contributions, insights, and work with your online community.

Building your online persona by sharing your research can:

• Broaden Your Network: With the power of social media, you have the ability to connect with people from all over the world. This can include future collaborators, partners, or researchers that can give you more insight about what you’re currently working on.
• Improve Your Discoverability: By using relevant hashtags and connecting with people within your discipline, your work has the potential to reach many like-minded individuals.
• Stay in Tune with New Opportunities: Social media is a great way to connect with potential stakeholders and stay aware of potential funding or grant offers.
• Open Discussion & Feedback: Sharing your work on social media is a quicker way to receive feedback for your research and can open a discussion that may lead you towards new insights that you wouldn’t have gotten from your immediate circle.

Create a caption:

When sharing your work with a broader audience, it’s important to keep in mind that those who see it may be less specialized within your particular field. For this reason, try presenting your work in easy-to-understand terms. Instead of only telling what your paper is about, try being relatable and highlight why these findings should matter to your audience. Remember, there’s a limited character amount. It’s okay if you can’t describe your findings all in one post. You can space out the information, keeping your audience engaged by sharing new content over time, all relating to one subject.

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind:

• Include the link to your article from the Computer Society Digital Library or Xplore (C).
• Lead with the most exciting or interesting finding reported in your article to capture your reader’s attention.
• Tie your findings to a provocative question or a compelling vision of the future.
• Share your research results and how it relates to current issues.
• Engage with someone else’s research (and make sure you tag them!)

Tag relevant accounts and use hashtags:

• Tag the Computer Society and your co-authors in the post.
  • Twitter: @ComputerSociety
  • Facebook: @ieeecomputersociety
  • LinkedIn: @IEEE Computer Society
• Use #IEEECS and #IEEE to reach the IEEE Computer Society’s network.
• Use keywords as additional hashtags that relate to your article’s topic.
  • Use a hashtag tool like hashtagify.me to help find more relevant terms

Include an image or video:

Even when sharing your research on Twitter and LinkedIn, imagery or videos can help your work stand out amongst the sea of posts from everyone else. Try including an image using the suggestions below:

• Use the IEEE Social Media and Communications Toolkit for editable templates and imagery.
• Include a figure or graphic from your paper.
• Create a graphic using a template from canva.com

Pursuing an Advanced Degree in Computer Science

Choosing to pursue a graduate degree in computer science or a related field is dependent on the career path you pursue. If you choose a path in research or academia, then rest assured that a graduate degree and published research will be required to advance.

Additionally, in a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, by 2026, jobs requiring at least a master’s degree are projected to grow by 16%. And to no surprise, software engineering is on this list. Get an idea of what current employers require from top-tier candidates by browsing our partners’ job openings.