What Are the Best Paid Computer Science Jobs?

01/12/2021

Embarking on a computer science career? A master’s could lead to the best paid jobs in the industry.

Doing a master’s degree in computer science is a fantastic investment for your career. As well as opening up more opportunities, it can also boost your earning potential.

The University of Bolton has been in the Top 10 in the UK for Student Satisfaction in Computing Courses* for the second-year running, so there’s nowhere better to upskill. Our goal is to support your career ambitions, and help you create a pathway to more senior level and higher paid roles.

Here are some of the best paid computer science jobs that may interest you…

Software engineer

This is one the top computer science jobs with a good starting salary. The average starting salary for a software engineer fresh out of university is around £35,000, according to statistics. If you want a high paid starting position to build your computer science career, this field will not disappoint.

There’s also plenty of room for growth and career development, and once you get more experience, you can boost prospects with the big name employers.

Data scientist

Not only is data science well paid, but it’s one of the most interesting areas to get into right now. This is a crucial time for graduates to make their mark, because there’s never been a greater need for closing the skills gap.

The UK Government’s research finds that UK companies have been trying to recruit between 178,000 to 234,000 roles requiring hard data skills in the last two years. But almost half of the businesses (46%) have struggled to fill these roles. This is because there aren’t enough graduates with specialist data skills.

According to Prospects, the salary for a junior data scientist starts at around £25,000 to £30,000 and can rise to £40,000 depending on your experience. After gaining a few years’ experience, you can earn up to £40,000 to £60,000.

Cyber security specialist

Another skill that’s hard to come by is cyber security. Barely a week goes by without hearing of some sort of cybercrime or an attack on a company’s network. The need for highly skilled security specialists is booming to say the least.

According to Talent.com, the average salary of a cyber security specialist is £52,578, with entry level positions starting as high as £42,500, and more experienced workers earning up to £70,000 per year.

Mobile app developer

We use apps for everything these days. From mobile banking and shopping to social media and fitness tracking, there’s an app for everything! As a mobile app developer, your skills will always remain relevant.

Although the starting salary for this is lower than a software engineer, there’s scope for progression, and it’s perfectly conceivable for some to be making over £100,000 per year within ten years.

As a leading Greater Manchester university with a wide range of computer science courses, there’s nowhere better to study this subject.

To take your computer science career to the next level, and to apply for a postgraduate programme in 2022, see our available courses.

*Complete University Guide, 2022 & 2021