If you’re looking to start your career or to switch job paths, there has never been a better time to consider computer science. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider pursuing a qualification to kick-start your computer science career.

The high demand

If you have an online Master’s in Computer Science, such as the one offered by Baylor University, your knowledge and skills will be in high demand. It’s all conducted online and you are free to study whenever you, whether that happens to be at 3am or 3pm. Through this degree, you can choose to pursue data science or software engineering.

The demand is due to every industry using technology on some level to build a successful business. This includes everything from developing software, designing websites or protecting highly confidential information. More and more business transactions and communications are being carried out online, and with this rise, the demand for those who are qualified in computer science also rises.

For example, finances are often dealt with online, with businesses sending and receiving invoices, and making or receiving payments. Marketing also relies on reaching people online. Both of these are necessary in different industries and involve dealing with the personal details of both payees and customers, so it’s crucial to keep these safe. Designing and monitoring a system to keep these secure is just one aspect of computer science.

The chance to earn more

Indeed lists the average salary for a general computer scientist as being around $104,000 per year, with the average salary of $47,000 for a computer programmer, and $93,000 for a cybersecurity analyst.

These are just a few of the career paths you can follow if you have a degree in computer science. If you compare these to some of the average industry salaries quoted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a big difference. People pursuing a career in hospitality and tourism tend to earn an average of around $24,000 per year, while for those working in theology and religion, it’s around $31,000.

A stable career

Some of the other roles mentioned above can be uncertain. When people are struggling financially, they will cut back on eating out at restaurants or staying in hotels. This means these businesses need to let staff go. Choosing a field such as computer science takes away some of this uncertainty.

Given the insecurity of today’s job market, it is difficult to find a truly stable career. However, computer science-related jobs are more stable than some other options. Technology has been improving for decades, but in recent years, we have seen some of the biggest changes and improvements in one lifetime.

This means that unless something unexpected happens, technology will continue to improve, and people with experience and qualifications in computer science will have a more stable career. While this doesn’t mean that you will work for the same company until retirement, it means that you will always have options and be able to find a new role.

Gain transferable skills

Working in computer science will provide you with many transferable skills should you ever need to switch careers or adapt to a new role, or perhaps one which involves other ad hoc duties.

Depending on your qualifications and experience, these can include technical skills, strong communication, the ability to think critically, being able to switch between working independently and working as part of a team, or strong leadership skills.

Although there are many options for industries and roles within computer science, these transferable skills can be adapted to other roles too. For example, you might decide to start your own business if this is something you have always thought about. Communication can be a big part of this as you connect with clients, customers and investors to grow your business. Likewise, having technical knowledge can save you time and money, and leadership skills will benefit you if you hire employees or work with freelancers.

Even in the most certain of career paths, people’s circumstances can change. If you need to move, spend more time caring for a family member or want to start a family, then it helps to know you have valuable skills to find a job which matches your circumstances.

Be creative

Although computer science may seem like it is solely based around technology, creativity also plays a vital part. Roles such as web designer allow you some creativity even if the business or client hiring you has a specific vision for how they want their website to look. You could use your knowledge to design this and use some creativity to make it stand out while still delivering the intended message.

Other roles you can pivot into include UX designer, which also relies on some level of creativity, or mobile designer, creating apps for smart phones, tablets and other portable devices. Even if creativity is not specifically listed in the requirements for the computer science role you are interested in, having a creative spark could help to set you apart from other candidates, and will also make your work stand out in a positive way. This can lead to other opportunities.

Opportunities for promotion

Not everyone is interested in promotion or pursuing leadership roles. Some people who choose computer science enjoy the role they work in and are happy to stay there as long as they are needed. The great thing is having the choice.

However, if you do want to climb the career ladder, choosing computer science is a great way to do that. People with the relevant knowledge and experience are sought after, and if you continue to work and improve, you will be able to pursue higher-paid roles with more responsibility if you choose to.

It is easy to see why careers based on computer science are so popular right now. This is a great time to take that first step by gaining a qualification. This knowledge is sought after and the opportunities are increasing, along with the fast-paced changes in technology.