Misconception of Computer Technology Careers

There are many misconceptions about individuals who have careers in the computer technology field. Since there are so many different specializations in computer science, the various fields are often confused. A common misconception of computer specialists is the amount of their pay. The most highly paid computer professionals are those who invent and develop new hardware and software peripherals. Although there is a high demand for computer specialists in most divisions of the field, certain divisions are declining in the need for personnel. The need for simple programmers is declining because of the growth of technology and the development of software that can automatically code basic programs independently. Computer software engineers are more skilled than computer programmers because they create applications that are used in various companies and homes throughout the world.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, computer software engineers can earn anywhere from around 46,000 to 114,000 dollars per year. I thought that this profession would begin paying a person more than 46,000 dollars a year because of the extensive training and certification that is required to be a productive software developer. One misconception about computer software engineers, as well as other professions, is if a master’s degree is obtained then the starting rate of pay will be much greater than one who has only a bachelor’s degree. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, graduates from college with a bachelors degree had a starting salary of around 52,000 dollars yearly income, and a graduate with a masters degree had an average starting salary of only 8,000 dollars more. Employers aren’t only looking for employees with high levels of education, the amount of experience a person has in the field makes much of a difference. Having experience lets the employer know that the applicant has used his or her learned skills in an environment and it will be easier for him or her to adapt to the new work environment.

Many of us have heard that computer engineering is one of the most growing professions in the country. Statements such as these persuade students to believe that the level of difficulty in getting a job in this field will be fairly easy. On the contrary, according to the occupational outlook handbook, the need for computer engineers in America is not as high as in previous years. This statement almost seems absurd because of the numerous new software functionalities that are needed daily to help do certain tasks. Studies have shown that because of the increasing number productivity in programming in oversea countries, job opportunities in the computer engineering field will not expand as rapidly as once projected. Although, the computer software engineering profession will not grow as rapidly as once thought, job opportunities will still be abundantly available. For a business to compete with another, it must have advanced technological tools that give them an added feature that does tasks easier or provides better service for their customers. As Wal-Mart has become one of the leaders in business in America, smaller businesses can only try to compete with it by using the same tasks orientated software or having their own created that does tasks that Wal-Mart doesn’t.

For computer science to be such a divided profession, the employers for these different fields are generally similar. Along with other computer specialists,