Computer science careers: Why computer science is for everyone

From software development to cybersecurity, the computer science field is full of exciting, diverse, and high-growth careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information research scientist jobs are projected to increase by 23% between 2022 to 2032.

Whether you’re just starting, thinking about switching careers, or looking to advance your computer science knowledge, this guide will help you navigate the many different computer science career paths, jobs, and skills needed to break into the industry.

Is a career in computer science right for you?

Computer science is a field with applications across diverse industries. Generally, if you are interested in working with computers, complex mathematics, and problem-solving, you are probably a good fit for a career in computer science.

At its core, computer science is about problem-solving using computers, which requires a foundation in mathematics, data structures and algorithms, and programming. Some of the prerequisites for an undergraduate computer science degree can include discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and calculus.

However, adding computer science skills can be tremendously beneficial to your career. “You can be a lawyer who's now building software to be used by law offices,” said David Joyner, computer scientist and executive director of online education at the College of Computing at Georgia Tech and instructor for edX courses such as GTx’s Introduction to Python Programming. “You can be an artist that's building ways to be artistic, to create installations, or create something virtually.”

Diverse computer science career paths: Where can it take you?

Popular career choices for computer science graduates can include software engineering and other technical specialties like cloud computing.

"For those looking for the best career paths, it is evident that cloud-native computing, DevOps, Linux, and security hold the most promising opportunities."

“For those looking for the best career paths, it is evident that cloud-native computing, DevOps, Linux, and security hold the most promising opportunities,” said Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin.

However, a background in computer science can open doors to many other careers and fields. Some of these careers include data science, product management, quality assurance, project management, and system administration.

What are nine exciting computer science jobs?

There’s more to computer science jobs than software engineering. Computer science skills can take your career in just about any direction, from cybersecurity to data science. Below are just a few possible computer science jobs on the market.