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Computer Programmers
A description of the the work done by "Computer Programmers" can be found
in the occupational
outlook handbook. On this page we examine the most common methods
of getting into this job category. We have examined all of the people
in our data set who were "Computer Programmers" and have identified the
most common major fields of study. Jobs categories vary considerably
in their degree requirements, so we have provided separate rankings for
each degree.
Most common fields of study for workers whose
most recent degree was a Bachelors Degree
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Mean 93 Median 93 Number of Std. Dev.
Income Income Observations Percent in 93 Income Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$45,174 $41,500 442 23.57 17290.78 Computer science
$50,850 $46,140 137 7.31 20028.59 Mathematics, general
$40,032 $38,256 131 6.99 11640.24 Computer/information sciences, general
$44,817 $42,000 117 6.24 15339.22 Business administration and management
$44,287 $40,725 110 5.87 17901.83 Computer programming
$39,049 $37,000 60 3.20 12228.02 Information services and systems
$54,596 $51,500 60 3.20 20381.00 Engineering: Electrical, electronics, communications
$42,598 $39,000 52 2.77 19629.58 Accounting
$47,961 $43,100 33 1.76 18206.42 Economics
$45,837 $37,000 33 1.76 18853.73 Psychology: General
$47,016 $42,000 33 1.76 15364.48 Mathematics: Applied
$46,622 $42,000 31 1.65 18124.59 Business, general
$54,588 $41,700 26 1.39 27584.31 Physics
$48,907 $44,000 25 1.33 17182.67 Engineering: Computer/systems
$49,757 $46,189 24 1.28 19196.79 OTHER mathematics
$43,097 $37,748 24 1.28 19868.16 Computer systems analysis
$43,802 $43,950 22 1.17 14207.05 Sociology
$44,377 $40,950 21 1.12 15019.61 Chemistry
$46,806 $42,000 20 1.07 17609.51 Financial management
$48,819 $38,500 20 1.07 30440.13 OTHER business management/administrative services
$43,423 $41,750 20 1.07 18255.43 Engineering: Mechanical
$47,032 $45,500 18 .96 17990.99 Biology, general
$45,589 $43,800 18 .96 13386.32 History, other
$42,988 $40,000 17 .91 14150.91 Education: Elementary teacher education
$44,891 $40,000 16 .85 17197.82 Business/Managerial economics
$46,381 $45,250 16 .85 15308.22 OTHER foreign languages and literature
$43,400 $40,670 16 .85 15165.31 Engineering: Electrical and electronic technologies
$47,765 $44,000 15 .80 14164.58 Data processing technology
$44,701 $41,500 13 .69 18341.22 Music, all fields
$39,995 $36,000 13 .69 10149.80 Business marketing/marketing management
$53,165 $54,300 12 .64 16866.92 Statistics
$37,463 $36,000 12 .64 9976.58 English Language and Literature/Letters
$42,187 $42,000 11 .59 9972.24 Political science and government
$40,934 $38,480 11 .59 8396.27 Liberal Arts/General Studies
$45,305 $44,525 10 .53 23185.71 Fine arts, all fields
$44,301 $46,800 10 .53 11204.70 OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
$42,384 $44,420 10 .53 10347.13 Education: Mathematics teacher education
$49,084 $42,000 9 .48 11158.74 Geology
$33,903 $28,600 9 .48 11579.57 Education: Secondary teacher education
$38,285 $42,150 8 .43 8826.29 Engineering: Civil
$39,733 $41,430 8 .43 11556.58 Engineering: Industrial production technologies
$49,037 $49,500 7 .37 13907.70 Geography
$43,737 $37,557 7 .37 17727.85 Education: OTHER education
$57,300 $43,000 7 .37 21507.14 Engineering: General
$37,914 $30,000 7 .37 12774.46 Journalism
$41,341 $36,200 7 .37 9848.13 OTHER communications
$51,191 $35,000 7 .37 41153.45 OTHER computer and information sciences
$54,520 $53,000 6 .32 8351.49 Engineering: Chemical
$77,809 $58,428 6 .32 42541.76 Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
$30,459 $24,076 6 .32 17690.61 Engineering: Industrial
$56,202 $32,000 5 .27 27410.23 OTHER psychology
$47,900 $40,000 5 .27 11091.40 OTHER social sciences
$35,028 $26,400 5 .27 8408.05 Agricultural Economics
$43,998 $36,888 5 .27 8596.35 Marketing research
$33,442 $18,500 5 .27 16455.14 Engineering: Aerospace, aeronautical, astronautical
$30,891 $26,032 4 .21 12494.38 Dramatic arts
$73,075 $59,250 4 .21 30242.63 Operations research
$62,130 $56,000 4 .21 17552.51 Psychology: Experimental
$41,364 $43,260 4 .21 6690.93 Criminal Justice/Protective Services
$46,393 $30,000 3 .16 14374.19 Home Economics
$39,767 $31,980 3 .16 9406.02 OTHER visual and performing arts
$44,745 $40,000 3 .16 5858.70 Nutritional sciences
$63,333 $49,000 3 .16 10143.42 Zoology, general
$46,413 $27,040 3 .16 26024.41 Mechanical engineering-related technologies
$47,791 $32,000 3 .16 17231.41 Communications, general
$44,348 $38,400 3 .16 4238.64 Astronomy and astrophysics
$51,920 $35,760 3 .16 13162.05 Audiology and speech pathology
$51,947 $14,400 3 .16 41786.32 Atmospheric sciences and meteorology
$33,696 $33,696 2 .11 1664.00 Library Science
$41,750 $41,750 2 .11 10250.00 Psychology: Clinical
$39,832 $39,832 2 .11 832.00 Actuarial science
$56,552 $56,552 2 .11 13448.00 Geological sciences, other
$50,000 $50,000 2 .11 22000.00 OTHER biological sciences
$33,000 $33,000 2 .11 6000.00 Social Work
$44,216 $44,216 2 .11 172.00 Anthropology and archeology
$49,527 $49,527 2 .11 4527.00 Area/Ethnic Studies
$39,250 $39,250 2 .11 4750.00 Architecture/Environmental Design
$41,248 $41,248 2 .11 747.60 Engineering: Architectural
$49,558 $49,558 2 .11 3742.00 OTHER engineering-related technologies
$70,000 $70,000 1 .05 0.00 Cell and molecular biology
$13,200 $13,200 1 .05 0.00 Education: Special education
$30,500 $30,500 1 .05 0.00 Public policy studies
$52,800 $52,800 1 .05 0.00 Engineering: Petroleum
$56,000 $56,000 1 .05 0.00 Engineering: Naval architecture and marine
$55,000 $55,000 1 .05 0.00 Criminology
$42,000 $42,000 1 .05 0.00 Microbiology
$29,641 $29,641 1 .05 0.00 Ecology
$33,000 $33,000 1 .05 0.00 International relations
$43,000 $43,000 1 .05 0.00 Engineering: Metallurgical
$60,000 $60,000 1 .05 0.00 Engineering: Agricultural
$15,000 $15,000 1 .05 0.00 Plant sciences
$45,302 $45,302 1 .05 .00 Engineering: Geophysical
$34,200 $34,200 1 .05 0.00 Animal sciences
$28,500 $28,500 1 .05 0.00 OTHER agricultural business and production
$45,000 $45,000 1 .05 0.00 Environmental science studies
$38,000 $38,000 1 .05 0.00 Education: Educational psychology
$31,000 $31,000 1 .05 0.00 Education: Science teacher education
$50,400 $50,400 1 .05 0.00 Education: Physical education/coaching
$52,000 $52,000 1 .05 0.00 OTHER physical sciences
$56,000 $56,000 1 .05 0.00 Linguistics
$38,000 $38,000 1 .05 0.00 Psychology: Educational
$60,000 $60,000 1 .05 0.00 Health/medical technologies
$57,000 $57,000 1 .05 0.00 Earth sciences
$38,000 $38,000 1 .05 0.00 Medical preparatory programs (e.g., pre-dentistry, pre-medical, pre-veterinary)
$52,000 $52,000 1 .05 0.00 Pharmacy
$27,000 $27,000 1 .05 0.00 Physical therapy and other rehabilitation/therapeutic services
$38,900 $38,900 1 .05 0.00 Public health (including environmental health and epidemiology)
$35,360 $35,360 1 .05 0.00 Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
$45,000 $45,000 1 .05 0.00 OTHER health/medical sciences
$43,000 $43,000 1 .05 0.00 Forestry sciences (Except management)
$30,000 $30,000 1 .05 0.00 Law/Prelaw/Legal Studies
$38,400 $38,400 1 .05 0.00 OTHER conservation/renewable natural resources
Most common fields of study for workers whose
most recent degree was a Masters Degree
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Mean 93 Median 93 Number of Std. Dev.
Income Income Observations Percent in 93 Income Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$54,912 $52,806 154 27.60 15864.05 Computer science
$53,299 $45,100 41 7.35 25354.60 Business administration and management
$58,476 $48,960 28 5.02 30146.59 Computer/information sciences, general
$58,302 $59,500 28 5.02 14933.52 Engineering: Electrical, electronics, communications
$56,400 $52,000 27 4.84 22810.21 Mathematics, general
$63,192 $52,000 17 3.05 29267.28 Financial management
$49,383 $45,000 17 3.05 13074.16 Engineering: Computer/systems
$51,299 $49,960 14 2.51 12333.43 Information services and systems
$51,163 $50,000 12 2.15 15936.75 Computer programming
$50,904 $42,177 11 1.97 13808.14 Mathematics: Applied
$50,900 $37,000 11 1.97 20362.30 Education: Secondary teacher education
$51,229 $43,550 10 1.79 36809.74 Physics
$62,022 $56,000 9 1.61 10815.30 Engineering: Mechanical
$44,006 $35,000 9 1.61 15765.12 OTHER business management/administrative services
$64,053 $53,500 8 1.43 26418.84 Accounting
$52,290 $42,000 7 1.25 19293.97 OTHER computer and information sciences
$49,114 $50,000 7 1.25 10148.53 Economics
$59,021 $47,000 6 1.08 28922.32 Statistics
$40,978 $41,490 6 1.08 8367.50 Business, general
$51,226 $45,000 5 .90 10818.23 Chemistry
$46,619 $46,000 5 .90 2860.04 Education: Special education
$45,800 $47,500 5 .90 9577.89 Education: OTHER education
$39,812 $35,000 5 .90 7753.93 Engineering: Industrial
$38,548 $31,200 5 .90 9831.36 OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
$65,750 $58,000 4 .72 23983.07 Computer systems analysis
$64,920 $62,000 4 .72 24915.44 Operations research
$54,539 $50,078 4 .72 9086.23 Engineering: Civil
$33,304 $34,608 4 .72 14321.30 Library Science
$32,150 $34,250 4 .72 7579.08 Education: Administration
$81,547 $60,000 3 .54 27691.35 Engineering: Electrical and electronic technologies
$78,000 $44,000 3 .54 31538.34 Business marketing/marketing management
$54,667 $37,000 3 .54 14290.63 Architecture/Environmental Design
$51,323 $32,968 3 .54 16019.16 Anthropology and archeology
$47,333 $37,000 3 .54 7845.73 History, other
$45,333 $43,000 3 .54 2054.80 Fine arts, all fields
$45,267 $38,000 3 .54 6045.02 Geology
$44,928 $41,784 3 .54 4294.46 Data processing technology
$42,836 $32,001 3 .54 10759.88 English Language and Literature/Letters
$80,500 $80,500 2 .36 23500.00 Education: Counselor education/guidance services
$64,500 $64,500 2 .36 35500.00 OTHER physical sciences
$58,812 $58,812 2 .36 6188.00 Linguistics
$55,120 $55,120 2 .36 19760.00 Geography
$53,000 $53,000 2 .36 7000.00 Engineering: Industrial production technologies
$50,000 $50,000 2 .36 0.00 OTHER engineering
$47,500 $47,500 2 .36 17500.00 Dramatic arts
$47,500 $47,500 2 .36 3500.00 OTHER mathematics
$45,000 $45,000 2 .36 5000.00 OTHER foreign languages and literature
$43,930 $43,930 2 .36 8570.00 Education: Mathematics teacher education
$43,699 $43,699 2 .36 4099.20 Public health (including environmental health and epidemiology)
$42,900 $42,900 2 .36 1300.00 Biology, general
$40,750 $40,750 2 .36 3250.00 Astronomy and astrophysics
$35,000 $35,000 2 .36 17000.00 Psychology: Clinical
$33,668 $33,668 2 .36 3668.00 Nursing (4 years or longer program)
$33,350 $33,350 2 .36 6350.00 Psychology: Experimental
$25,300 $25,300 2 .36 2300.00 Public administration
$69,000 $69,000 1 .18 0.00 Sociology
$67,000 $67,000 1 .18 0.00 Mechanical engineering-related technologies
$66,560 $66,560 1 .18 0.00 Education: Elementary teacher education
$64,480 $64,480 1 .18 0.00 Law/Prelaw/Legal Studies
$64,000 $64,000 1 .18 0.00 Health services administration
$58,500 $58,500 1 .18 0.00 Engineering: Bioengineering and biomedical
$55,020 $55,020 1 .18 0.00 Criminology
$55,000 $55,000 1 .18 0.00 Agricultural Economics
$52,000 $52,000 1 .18 0.00 Education: Computer teacher education
$51,000 $51,000 1 .18 0.00 Audiology and speech pathology
$50,000 $50,000 1 .18 0.00 Engineering: Metallurgical
$50,000 $50,000 1 .18 0.00 Geological sciences, other
$49,000 $49,000 1 .18 0.00 Microbiology
$49,000 $49,000 1 .18 0.00 Journalism
$48,000 $48,000 1 .18 0.00 Genetics, animal and plant
$48,000 $48,000 1 .18 0.00 Engineering: General
$45,600 $45,600 1 .18 0.00 Education: Physical education/coaching
$45,000 $45,000 1 .18 0.00 Business/Managerial economics
$43,000 $43,000 1 .18 0.00 Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
$42,770 $42,770 1 .18 0.00 Education: Science teacher education
$41,500 $41,500 1 .18 0.00 OTHER conservation/renewable natural resources
$40,000 $40,000 1 .18 0.00 Cell and molecular biology
$36,000 $36,000 1 .18 0.00 Engineering: Aerospace, aeronautical, astronautical
$35,000 $35,000 1 .18 0.00 Engineering: Mining and minerals
$35,000 $35,000 1 .18 0.00 Engineering: Nuclear
$33,987 $33,987 1 .18 .00 Atmospheric sciences and meteorology
$30,000 $30,000 1 .18 0.00 Social Work
$22,000 $22,000 1 .18 0.00 Plant sciences
$20,000 $20,000 1 .18 0.00 OTHER communications
$15,000 $15,000 1 .18 0.00 OTHER health/medical sciences
Most common fields of study for workers whose
most recent degree was a Ph.D.
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Mean 93 Median 93 Number of Std. Dev.
Income Income Observations Percent in 93 Income Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$74,496 $73,688 6 14.63 13881.99 Chemistry
$65,207 $61,300 6 14.63 13414.13 Mathematics, general
$76,300 $80,500 4 9.76 9075.79 Computer science
$62,000 $60,000 3 7.32 1632.99 Engineering: Mechanical
$57,000 $18,000 3 7.32 31443.07 Engineering: Computer/systems
$56,200 $56,200 2 4.88 6200.00 Operations research
$50,560 $50,560 2 4.88 12560.00 OTHER mathematics
$46,440 $46,440 2 4.88 5560.00 Astronomy and astrophysics
$62,400 $62,400 1 2.44 0.00 Physics
$53,400 $53,400 1 2.44 0.00 Engineering: Electrical, electronics, communications
$48,000 $48,000 1 2.44 0.00 Medicine (e.g., dentistry, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, veterinary)
$45,656 $45,656 1 2.44 0.00 Anthropology and archeology
$40,000 $40,000 1 2.44 0.00 Psychology: Experimental
$40,000 $40,000 1 2.44 0.00 Home Economics
$37,917 $37,917 1 2.44 .00 OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
$37,000 $37,000 1 2.44 0.00 Economics
$36,400 $36,400 1 2.44 0.00 Mathematics: Applied
$33,000 $33,000 1 2.44 0.00 OTHER conservation/renewable natural resources
$30,000 $30,000 1 2.44 0.00 Genetics, animal and plant
$24,000 $24,000 1 2.44 0.00 Linguistics
$18,720 $18,720 1 2.44 0.00 Health/medical technologies
Most common fields of study for workers whose
most recent degree was a JD, LLB, MD, DDS, or Th.D.
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Mean 93 Median 93 Number of Std. Dev.
Income Income Observations Percent in 93 Income Major Field of Study in Bachelors degree
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$64,750 $44,000 4 57.14 37698.64 Medicine (e.g., dentistry, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, veterinary)
$150,000 $150,000 1 14.29 0.00 Education: OTHER education
$89,440 $89,440 1 14.29 0.00 Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
$36,000 $36,000 1 14.29 0.00 Engineering: Mechanical
Prepared by Prof. Ken Chapman: vcecn00a@csun.edu