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computer programming, specific platforms

Types of Degrees computer programming, specific platforms Majors Are Earning

Those studying computer programming, specific platforms may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	2
Associate’s Degree	8
Master’s Degree	31

What computer programming, specific platforms Majors Need to Know

Studies in computer programming, specific platforms develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that computer programming, specific platforms graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing computer programming, specific platforms emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 6.0 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a computer programming, specific platforms program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Programming — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to computer programming, specific platforms careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, computer programming, specific platforms graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.9 / 7
Processing Information	4.5 / 7
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by computer programming, specific platforms professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Apache Maven	Development environment software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
NetSuite ERP	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Google Analytics	Data mining software	—
Apache Hadoop	Data base management system software	—
Ada	Development environment software	—
PHP	Web platform development software	—
Programming language one PL/I	Development environment software	—
LAMP Stack	Web platform development software	—
C#	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation	Cloud-based management software	—
Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS	Data base reporting software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for computer programming, specific platforms graduates include:

• Beta Tester
• Bug Bounty Hunter
• Malware Analyst
• Graphic Engineer
• Application Programmer
• Computer Programmer Analyst
• Automation Programmer
• Systems Programmer
• Program Analyst
• Object-Oriented Programmer
• Numerical Control Programmer (NC Programmer)
• Statistical Programmer
• IT Programmer (Information Technology Programmer)
• Engineering Programmer
• Website Programmer

What Can You Do With a computer programming, specific platforms Degree?

Graduates with a degree in computer programming, specific platforms commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Computer Programmers	11.7%	$109,892	$85,812–$133,972
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	-1.7%	$80,062	$66,401–$93,722
Software Developers	13.5%	$76,447	$61,199–$91,695

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to computer programming, specific platforms graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	77.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	13.3%
Some college courses	3.9%
Postsecondary certificate	2.7%
Master’s degree	1.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	1.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in computer programming, specific platforms?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 73.2% of computer programming, specific platforms degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	11	26.8%
Men	30	73.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of computer programming, specific platforms graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	24	58.5%
Asian	5	12.2%
Hispanic or Latino	4	9.8%
Black or African American	5	12.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	2.4%
Two or More Races	2	4.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do computer programming, specific platforms Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of computer programming, specific platforms graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$55,537
4 years	$60,237
5 years	$68,349

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $68,349 — roughly 23% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in computer programming, specific platforms Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, computer programming, specific platforms graduates earn a median of $60,237 four years after completion — roughly 59% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Computer Science	79,857
Information Technology	42,322
Computer Programming	15,336
Computer Programming/Programmer, General	11,341
Informatics	3,067
Computer Programming, Specific Applications	2,813
Artificial Intelligence	1,653
Cloud Computing	1,229
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation	1,028
Computer Game Programming	492
Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification	420
Computer Programming, Other	229

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.