| Computer Science is a terrific field in which to
study and work. There is a huge unfilled demand for information
professionals, not just programmers.
One salary survey reports the average starting salary in the United States for computer science majors is $53,051 per year
(http://www.naceweb.org/press/display.asp?year=&prid=264). This is among the highest salaries
for any major: 
In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that the marketplace is continuing to create jobs for computer professionals. One result is that experienced computer scientists, as are developed here at Canisius, are paid very well:
But there are many many other career paths in Computer Science,
so don't be scared off if the movies terrify you with
visions of hacking computer code in a cubicle all day long.
Some people do that, but many more work with people, visit
client sites, write readable documentation, conduct training
seminars, travel to remote areas to install and troubleshoot,
design new products, and do a million other similar tasks.
A growing number of computer professionals are working in the
field of bioinformatics which
applies Computer Science to cutting-edge biological problems,
such as genomics or proteomics.
Other computer specialists write and develop computer games,
or design the hardware that runs them, such as the XBox.
Still others work with robotics: writing programs to control
them, allow them to learn and work autonomously or under external control,
building new models, and applying them to industrial control.
There are a number of places that survey salaries of CS and IS
(Information Services) professionals. You can probably find the
most current ones through a Web search.
So the bottom line (excuse the pun) is that you will be
handsomely remunerated in the field of Computer Science. But
besides money (which we all need and usually want more of) it
is an exciting time to be a professional in computing. New
developments in programming languages, such as Java and C++,
are turning the industry on its head. Computing hardware
continues to follow Moore's Law of doubling in power and
halving in price every 18 months. And millions of ordinary
citizens all around the globe are becoming not only computer
literate through the Web and the widespread personal computer,
but computer enthusiastic. You had better keep up! Otherwise,
you'll be at a party or a family gathering and
non-professionals will expose your ignorance of the latest
developments.
Check out the Canisius College
Career Center
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