Why a Master’s in Computer Science is an Investment in Your Future

A master’s in computer science should be seen as an investment in your future. It can lead to a lucrative career and ensure that you have a more stable outlook.

Open doors to high-paying jobs

Qualifications such as the Online Master’s of Computer Science, which is available at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, can open doors to high-paying careers. You can tailor your qualification to your chosen career and complete all your coursework online.

Here are some of the careers you can pursue with your qualification.

Web developer

A career as a web developer could earn you over $100,000 a year. Although some starting salaries are below this, as you build on your experience, and if you look around, you will find higher-paying roles.

 This will involve using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. You will update websites, create frameworks and layouts, and test websites for potential problems so that you can fix them.

Your master’s should teach you everything you need to know for a career as a web developer. However, if you’re unsure, Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers support and one-on-one mentorship. You can take advantage of this to answer any questions you have before signing up and get support while studying for your qualification.

Software engineer

The annual salary as a software engineer can be higher than that of a web developer, with the average in the US estimated to be around $127,000. The demand for software engineers has risen more than in many other careers. So, it’s a lucrative career to have, with the prospect of being able to demand higher pay, and have the security of a career where your skills are in demand.

You would be expected to find and solve problems in web applications, write code, develop software, be able to think logically to find solutions, and work with a team of other professionals. Understanding computer science is a big part of this role, so your degree would help to prepare you for this.

Games designer

You could use your master’s in computer science to become a games designer. These can be for a variety of platforms, from games consoles to mobile games, which have risen in popularity as more people have purchased smartphones.

This can be perfect for anyone looking to combine computer science knowledge and creativity. As well as using your computer skills to design games, you will also be expected to come up with ideas about the game, such as creating settings and characters and introducing a narrative. However, you won’t do all this alone. You will work with other professionals, such as artists, to design and improve games.

The average salary is $90,000 a year, but the top 20% of games designers earn almost double this.

Cyber security analyst

A career as a cyber security analyst could also be lucrative. If you choose computer network security as your specialization for the computer science master’s, you will learn about web attacks, intrusion detection, cybercrime, and everything else you need for a successful career as a cyber security analyst.

You will often find that companies are in need of qualified employees with cyber security skills. The average salary is over $100,000, but some top-level jobs have been reported as paying $400,000. These are senior-level roles, but this shows that your education, experience, and hard work can pay off. If you stay with a company for long enough, and they are impressed with your work, you can climb the ranks and increase your earning potential.

The demand for this role is unlikely to decrease as technology increases, and with it the risk of security breaches, unless these are prevented by qualified professionals. These are needed to monitor and prevent breaches, cyber-attacks and other problems that could cause professional and financial problems if not spotted in time.

Machine learning engineer

The average salary for this role is $122,000. Your duties will include designing machine learning software, running tests, and using the results to make adjustments and improvements. Your master’s in computer science will be a big help in securing this role and carrying out your tasks to a high standard because it teaches you and builds on existing skills to ensure that you have the required knowledge. You will also need a strong background in mathematics and excellent communication skills.

Other ways that your qualification will help

In addition to the high-paying roles you can qualify for with your degree, there are other reasons why it can lead to a lucrative career.

Your skills and knowledge are sought after

All the careers mentioned above (and many others you can work in after graduating) are seeking people with the skills and qualities your learning provides and builds on. This means that you will always have choices. So, besides having better-than-average salaries, you have the assurance that if one company closes or has to let you go for other reasons beyond your control, you won’t struggle to find another role.

Companies are in need of people in these roles, because technology is now a crucial part of any business. This provides you with a higher level of job security than many other careers.

You can start your own business

You can also use your education and skills to benefit yourself if you choose to start your own business. Because these careers are high paying, as a new start-up it’s unlikely that you could afford to hire someone who has the background you need.

However, if you’ve gained a master’s in computer science, you will be qualified to carry out many of these tasks yourself, from protecting your business from cyber-attacks to developing software to improve the efficiency of your business. You could even create your own business developing mobile games, or based on the skills you learn from your degree.

Your qualification is an investment in a lucrative career, with a choice of several industries and roles, and a more certain future – and it ensures that you always have options.