WIll computer science wages go down soon?(and will it be worth it to get a degree in that)?

[BlockedTheShot]

I'm interested in a comp sci major, however, i feel that the push for programming(As well as other articles and sources, ex: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/21/coding-education-teaching-silicon-valley-wages) to be a "universal language" or to loose the "stigma", is partially due to need for lowering wages.

 

If not i might also look into a comp engineering degree or eletrical engineering.

 

as I would be the graduating class of 2024 in college, would it be worth it to get a degree in comp sci.

 

 

[LAwLz]

Just some random thoughts from me:

1) You should pursue a career you enjoy, not what will make you the most money.

 

2) From what I've seen, kids these days don't understand much about computers anyway, so I don't think there is a large risk of a ton of programmers or other computer experts appearing anything soon.

 

3) When people say computer science should be a high school graduation requirement, they don't mean learning to program in C. In my high school class we had a programming course (mandatory for everyone in my class) and I bet 90% of those who took it would not be able to write a simple program if their lives depended on it. It was mostly just learning how it works, rather than actually use it.

 

4) Woodworking classes are mandatory for everyone in Sweden too, all throughout middle school, but I don't see carpenters going out of jobs left and right because of it. Most people are not fit for working with the things they learn in school. Schools are suppose to provide people with a solid base of understanding in various subjects so that they themselves can figure out what they are good at and what to do. Letting everyone try out and practices some programming seems like a very good idea to me.

 

5) The different educations you listed that you're interested in are very different from one another. Saying that you're interested in computer science or electrical engineering is kind of like saying you can't decide if you want to work as a hair dresser, or rally driver.

It's not impossible to be interested in both, but it might be a good idea to check which classes are actually in each program and what they are actually about before choosing one.

[BlockedTheShot]

14 minutes ago, LAwLz said:

Just some random thoughts from me:

1) You should pursue a career you enjoy, not what will make you the most money.

 

2) From what I've seen, kids these days don't understand much about computers anyway, so I don't think there is a large risk of a ton of programmers or other computer experts appearing anything soon.

 

3) When people say computer science should be a high school graduation requirement, they don't mean learning to program in C. In my high school class we had a programming course (mandatory for everyone in my class) and I bet 90% of those who took it would not be able to write a simple program if their lives depended on it. It was mostly just learning how it works, rather than actually use it.

 

4) Woodworking classes are mandatory for everyone in Sweden too, all throughout middle school, but I don't see carpenters going out of jobs left and right because of it. Most people are not fit for working with the things they learn in school. Schools are suppose to provide people with a solid base of understanding in various subjects so that they themselves can figure out what they are good at and what to do. Letting everyone try out and practices some programming seems like a very good idea to me.

 

5) The different educations you listed that you're interested in are very different from one another. Saying that you're interested in computer science or electrical engineering is kind of like saying you can't decide if you want to work as a hair dresser, or rally driver.

It's not impossible to be interested in both, but it might be a good idea to check which classes are actually in each program and what they are actually about before choosing one.

 

If I were to actually pick a career that would make me the most money, i'd probably pick a surgeon, orthodontist, or a aerospace engineer(i'd might be fine with the aerospace engineer, but not a surgeon or orthodontist) . and I am interested in all three of the majors i listed in the last post. I also kind of feel that the choice should be partially determined by how much money it makes(so you can afford a good life) and what you are interested in(so you can stick to that major and do well in it).

 

 

i'm just afraid i won't be able to live a comfortable life with a comp sci major, with all the push for it to be mainstream(like it is now in the us at least).

 

thanks tho

 

[Guest]

I don’t read the news. It’s run by the sith... they always deal in absolutes. 

 

I agree with @LAwLz. I know how to change oil, tires, work on cars and all that but I have no intention of ever working on my own vehicle even though it’d be cheaper. Anyone CAN write tons of programs but won’t. I can cook at home but we still go out to eat. Someone just specialises & really got into it. 

[Settlerteo]

1 hour ago, BlockedTheShot said:

I'm interested in a comp sci major, however, i feel that the push for programming(As well as other articles and sources, ex: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/21/coding-education-teaching-silicon-valley-wages) to be a "universal language" or to loose the "stigma", is partially due to need for lowering wages.

 

If not i might also look into a comp engineering degree or eletrical engineering.

 

as I would be the graduating class of 2024 in college, would it be worth it to get a degree in comp sci.

 

 

It depends on so many reasons as in where you live for example, but in general they are only going to go up and up thankfully. Even in countries like mine that are(were) under economic crisis, the only jobs seeing high salaries and raises were jobs related to computer science. 

[lacion]

a degree won't land you a high paying job anywhere, having a piece of paper that says what you studied will not land you a good job, your attitude and your knowledge will.

 

I had lead/technical managing position in a few bay area startups and had gone through the pain of having to hire for several terminal positions. not once I or any of my colleagues check for a degree or were someone studied. we pretty much look at experience. if the position was very junior we just look at knowledge and attitude (things like, is the candidate curious, or has he bothered looking at what technologies we use, is he knowledgeable about them. a lot of the time we ask technical problem-solving questions were we want to hear things like... I don't really use that but I can look here and there for the answers. maybe using X, Y or Z)

 

 

P.S

I don't mean studying a degree is a waste of time, it will teach you a lot, but in the end what career or degree you choose won't be a limiting factor on what job and pay you can get. as an example I major in art and work most of my youth in the VFX industry, for the past decade i been working as a software engineer in the bay area. I know lots of other engineers that come from vastly different backgrounds, it also happens in other positions like PM´s and PjM´s

[BobNoMonitor]

Computer Science isn't only programming. You'd be surprised at the shortage of IT specialists. Cloud engineering, Automating, Sysadmins, Network engineers and many many more, depending on their capabilities and experience could prob find a job within a week.

Computer Science studies are good, because you can touch the wider aspect of IT, therefore find what you like the most and focus on that side of IT.

[TopDollar]

2 hours ago, BlockedTheShot said:

 

If I were to actually pick a career that would make me the most money, i'd probably pick a surgeon, orthodontist, or a aerospace engineer(i'd might be fine with the aerospace engineer, but not a surgeon or orthodontist) . and I am interested in all three of the majors i listed in the last post. I also kind of feel that the choice should be partially determined by how much money it makes(so you can afford a good life) and what you are interested in(so you can stick to that major and do well in it).

 

 

i'm just afraid i won't be able to live a comfortable life with a comp sci major, with all the push for it to be mainstream(like it is now in the us at least).

 

thanks tho

 

I don't think we'll see an overall decrease in wages within the Computer Science field anytime soon. I have a degree in both Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering and work on piping systems in the Naval industry. At least in our industry, a large majority of complex mechanical systems are being slowly converted to electrically controlled. Seems to be the same story with most other industries as well. Meaning there is a big demand for electrical/computer engineers and computer scientists to design these new systems. In the Aero industry as well, eletrical/computer engineering and computer science play a huge roll (avionics, fly-by-wire, etc.) since a lot more things are becoming more automated. I'd say it's probably easier to get into the Aero industry this way than it is with an Aero degree.

[YaBoiWill]

In the theatre industry, more and more of the operations are being automated, so much so that a DSM (who calls the show, i.e play this sound effect now) can run the lighting, sound, and DSM duties all from a computer using QLab that talks to the sound and lighting desks to run the set command, like LX1.2 effect with the sound que. 

People need to program the desks to do this (my job), but someone needs to program software like QLab to run these presets, and make them work with a wide range of equipment.

For this reason, I think wages will stay the same or go up (IMO) 

Also, do the job that you'll be happy in, I've had some really shite jobs that paid well, but the days just dragged and it was just not an enjoyable time. What I do now doesn't pay that much, but I really enjoy it

[camjocotem]

I'd personally say go for if you feel like programming is an area you are interested in personally / could potentially see yourself doing some hobby projects in.

It's just an area which is constantly changing and so if you are expected to keep up then constant learning may not seem quite so appealing.

 

Even if you yourself don't care much for learning the new stuff, people you work with probably will, which inevitably means you'd need to learn it too.

I personally think programming is a fantastic job! (If you get the right employer / colleagues)

If you walk into a job then likely everyone there will have their own obligations to attend to; you as the new starter could decide to focus your learning into an area the rest of the team don't know quite as well and become the "go-to guy/gal" for that topic, and then do some basic learning for the rest of the areas / get help from others. See T-Shaped knowledge

[MrFixitBlankFace]

The robots are taking over the computer programming jobs!!

But the people have to program the robots. So.......we're safe.

[r2724r16]

On 2/1/2019 at 6:01 AM, lacion said:

having a piece of paper that says what you studied will not land you a good job, your attitude and your knowledge will.

Not true in all situations.

[Sauron]

Being a "programmer" is probably the lowest common denominator among computer scientists and engineers. You don't get a degree to be a programmer. You get a degree to know what you should be programming and how to organize a software development effort.

 

In a software company there are the grunt workers who know how to write code in a given language, and then there are the engineers who tell them what they should be writing. The latter is not a low wage job and it will never be, because it requires that you use your head to solve complex problems that are constantly evolving.

[lacion]

15 hours ago, Geography said:

Not true in all situations.

correct there may be specific where a degree may be a requirement. but personally, I would stay away from any job that values more what a piece of paper says that the value you give to a company.

[LAwLz]

7 hours ago, lacion said:

correct there may be specific where a degree may be a requirement. but personally, I would stay away from any job that values more what a piece of paper says that the value you give to a company.

I don't think you understand the point of degrees.

 

The paper is validation that you actually know what you claim to know.

Any random person can turn up for an interview and lie about how much they know. People with degrees has evidence for what they know, and you can somewhat gauge it.

It's the same with certificates.

 

Think of it this way, if two candidates seemed to be just as qualified and good at, but one had certificates and/or degrees and the other one didn't, who would you pick?

My guess is that you would pick the one without the degree or certificates because you seem to hate them with a passion, but most rational people would pick the one who had them.

 

It's easy to say "I would pick the most knowledgeable one", but you can't determine how much someone knows at an interview. At least not if it's a slightly more advanced position.

[Guest]

On 2/2/2019 at 12:01 AM, lacion said:

a degree won't land you a high paying job anywhere, having a piece of paper that says what you studied will not land you a good job, your attitude and your knowledge will.

 

Not really. A degree demonstrates an individual has attained a certain amount of knowledge and practical capability in the subject. Most importantly, you are taught to think critically about a subject. If they don't have the proper qualification, they don't get the job, simple. 

[DaRk0]

My friend - if you want to afford a good life remember this: A high paid employee is still an employee.

[lacion]

On 2/9/2019 at 2:34 AM, RorzNZ said:

Not really. A degree demonstrates an individual has attained a certain amount of knowledge and practical capability in the subject. Most importantly, you are taught to think critically about a subject. If they don't have the proper qualification, they don't get the job, simple. 

that is not simply true, it been demonstrated over and over than a degree only shows that you paid for the education and not much else.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, lacion said:

that is not simply true, it been demonstrated over and over than a degree only shows that you paid for the education and not much else.

Demonstrated where?

[Teddy07]

On 2/1/2019 at 10:37 AM, LAwLz said:

1) You should pursue a career you enjoy, not what will make you the most mone

 

I think this is bad advice. Too many people study what they love (arts, humanities...) and wonder why they can barely make ends meet.  I would rather say a basic interest should be existent.