Find Tech Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Human Computer Interaction Major

Find Schools Near

Human Computer Interaction

$93,350 Median Salary

Types of Degrees Human Computer Interaction Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many human computer interaction graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 748
Bachelor’s Degree 618
Basic Certificate 270
Associate Degree 147
Graduate Certificate 64
Doctor’s Degree 10

What Human Computer Interaction Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to human computer interaction were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Human Computer Interaction Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in human computer interaction should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

undefined
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills for Human Computer Interaction Majors

A major in human computer interaction prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

undefined
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Human Computer Interaction Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a human computer interaction student include the following:

undefined
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Can You Do With a Human Computer Interaction Major?

People with a human computer interaction degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title Job Growth Rate Median Salary
Information Technology Project Managers 9.3% $90,270
Video Game Designers 9.3% $90,270
Web Administrators 9.3% $90,270

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Computer Interaction?

618 Bachelor's Degrees Annually
26% Percent Women
32% Percent Racial-Ethnic Minorities*
This major tends to be male dominated. About 74% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of human computer interaction majors is as follows:

undefined
Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 52
Black or African American 39
Hispanic or Latino 70
White 295
International Students 77
Other Races/Ethnicities 85

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Human Computer Interaction, too. About 12.5% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

  • China
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Singapore
  • Saudi Arabia

How Much Do Human Computer Interaction Majors Make?

Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary

According to 2019-2020 data from the U.S. Department of Education, students who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human computer interaction have a median salary of $34,168 during the early years of their career. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $29,600 (25th percentile) and $39,269 (75th percentile).

undefined

It is possible that some of these people may have taken positions that were not related to human computer interaction.

Salaries According to BLS

The median salary for someone in a career related to human computer interaction is $93,350. This median refers to all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Median Salary for a Human Computer Interaction Major  93,350
0K
250K
Median Salary for a High School Graduate  ( 30000 to 57900 )
0K
250K
Median Salary for a Bachelor's Degree Holder  ( 45600 to 99000 )
0K
250K
Median Salary for an Advanced Degree Holder  ( 55600 to 125400 )
0K
250K

Some degrees associated with human computer interaction may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to human computer interaction have obtained the following education levels.

undefined
Education Level Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma 1.6%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) 3.2%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) 4.9%
Some College Courses 8.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 19.4%
Bachelor’s Degree 50.2%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. 8.1%
Master’s Degree 3.2%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. 1.6%

Online Human Computer Interaction Programs

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 45 schools offered some type of human computer interaction program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level Colleges Offering Programs Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) 0 0
Certificate (1-2 years) 0 0
Certificate (2-4 Years) 0 0
Associate’s Degree 3 1
Bachelor’s Degree 6 1
Post-Baccalaureate 0 0
Master’s Degree 27 3
Post-Master’s 2 0
Doctor’s Degree (Research) 5 1
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) 0 0
Doctor’s Degree (Other) 0 0

Is a Degree in Human Computer Interaction Worth It?

The median salary for a human computer interaction grad is $93,350 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 134% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,069,000 after 20 years!

undefined

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to human computer interaction.

Major Number of Grads
Computational Science 1,360

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Computer Science Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited computer and technology colleges across the U.S.