Earnings

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of computer and information scientists were $93,950 in the most recent data. The middle 50 percent earned between $71,930 and $118,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $53,590, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $144,880. Median annual earnings of computer and information scientists employed in computer systems design and related services were $95,340.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Summer 2008 Salary Survey Class computer science graduates were offered an average salary offer of $60,416.

Employment

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer scientists and database administrators hold about 542,000 jobs in the U.S., including about 58,000 who were self-employed. Employment was distributed among the detailed occupations as follows:

Network systems and data communication analysts - 262,000
Database administrators - 119,000
Computer and information scientists, research - 25,000
Computer specialists, all other - 136,000

Although they are increasingly employed in every sector of the economy, the greatest concentration of these workers is in the computer systems design and related services industry. Firms in this industry provide services related to the commercial use of computers on a contract basis, including custom computer programming services; computer systems integration design services; computer facilities management services, including computer systems or data processing facilities support services for clients; and other computer-related services, such as disaster recovery services and software installation. Many computer scientists and database administrators are employed by Internet service providers; Web search portals; and data processing, hosting, and related services firms. Others work for government, manufacturers of computer and electronic products, insurance companies, financial institutions, and universities.

A growing number of computer specialists, such as network and data communications analysts, are employed on a temporary or contract basis; many of these individuals are selfemployed, working independently as contractors or consultants. For example, a company installing a new computer system may need the services of several network systems and data communication analysts just to get the system running. Because not all of the analysts would be needed once the system is functioning, the company might contract for such employees with a temporary help agency or consulting firm, or with the network systems analysts themselves. Such jobs may last from several months to 2 years or more. This growing practice enables companies to bring in people with the exact skills they need to complete a particular project, rather than having to spend time or money training or retraining existing workers. Often, experienced consultants then train a company’s in-house staff as a project develops.

The following is a partial list of employers of Computer Scientists: