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Computer Science Vs Information Technology Career Outlook

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Computer Science Vs Information Technology Career Outlook

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giahienhoang99
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BLOG !

Data Preparation Field Services Business Tech

General

What's The
Difference? Computer
Science vs Information
Technology
by Kaushik Bhaumik | May 22, 2019

At some point in your training or career, you’re going to


have to make a distinction in what kind of work you do.
The two most distinct paths you’re likely to encounter
are Information Technology and Computer Science. It’s
easy to confuse the two, but each of these disciplines
demands a different set of skills and a different kind of
attitude.

Here, we’re going to look at the differences between


information technology and computer science. We’re
also going to take a look at the kind of career you can
expect of each, and which might be the best option
based on your skills and work preferences.

The difference between


Information Technology and
Computer Science
At a glance, IT (information technology) careers are more
about installing, maintaining, and improving computer
systems, operating networks, and databases.
Meanwhile, computer science is about using
mathematics to program systems to run more efficiently,
including in design and development.

While computer science education isn’t necessary for an


IT career, some IT education is fundamental for a
computer science degree that later leads to job
opportunities. IT can be specialized in many different
ways, but CS graduates have opportunities immediately
available to them that IT qualified workers don’t.

The work environments expected from both careers can


vary widely, too. Most IT professionals work as part of a
team in an organization, serving internal needs or
working directly with clients. Computer scientists,
however, work in businesses, colleges, video game
development companies, or as freelancers. Regardless of
which appeals more, there’s plenty of potential for career
growth and lucrative job opportunities in both fields.

How do I
get a
career in

information technology?
To start a career in IT, you normally require two-to-four-
year degree programs in an IT related subject. Some IT
team members do start off in help desk positions with
much less education and receive training through their
employer, however.

Alongside the right bachelor’s degree, training, and


experience, skills considered essential for IT roles include
aptitude with Linux and SQL, as well as project
management skills, technical support skills, and
customer service skills.

As you progress through an IT career, computer science


skills and programming knowledge can help you
advance. As such, IT can serve as an entryway to
computer science careers. Either way, IT professionals
are expected to keep up to date with the latest
technologies.

What does
a career in

information technology look


like?
IT jobs are ever on the rise, with an estimated 15 to 37%
increase in open job roles by 2026, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s one of the fastest growing
occupation types of them all, with high demand leading
to an average annual wage of around $86k.

The work of an IT specialist can differ greatly but, in


most cases, they are there to solve business processes
using technologies they have expertise in. Most often
they work as part of a team and with other departments
or clients. A lot of the work of an IT professional involves
finding and implementing technologies with existing
systems that help meet the goals of the client or
employer.

There’s a lot of room for specialization in IT, too. This


might include finding a niche in networks, security, Cloud
computing, and more. A systems administrator or
database administrator role is a common career
progression for IT professionals, too.

How do I
get a
career in
computer
science?
Most computer
scientists start by
earning a degree with a computer science major. Most
commonly, they go for four-year degrees that include
placement positions in tech-driven organizations and
environments. Computer scientists aiming to work in
software developing are also expected to teach
themselves coding consistently.

Besides the experience needed and the certifications to


help prove their competency, there are skills a computer
scientist is expected to show. Like those in IT
professions, SQL and Linux capabilities are expected, but
so are Java, systems engineer, and software engineer
skills, alongside knowledge on information systems.

With those skills, computer scientists can find places in


all kinds of IT professions, as well as a few exclusive
options that we’ll look at next.

What does
a career in
computer
science
look like?
Just like information
technology roles,
computer science
roles are growing at
a rate faster than most occupations. There are expected
to be up to 22% more computer science jobs by 2026,
with the average developer with a computer science
background making around $93k.

With the right qualifications, computer scientists can find


careers of all kinds, including in programming, operating
systems development, software engineering and as
senior IT professionals. Some of the fastest growing
computer science jobs include roles such as web
developer, computer systems analyst, systems engineer,
and software applications developer.

Computer scientists also have skills such as deep


programming knowledge and information systems
analysis that allow much more opportunity to freelance.
At FieldEngineer.com, you can see what kind of freelance
roles can fit your specific type and level of skill. By
uploading your resume, you can begin to immediately
look at the most relevant matching opportunities.

Finding jobs in information


technology and computer
science
There’s always room for IT specialists in organizations of
all kinds, while computer scientists are more
concentrated in tech-industry jobs. However, that’s a
fast-growing industry, so there’s no shortage of roles for
those in both types of tech career.

Besides working within organizations, sites like


FieldEngineer.com make it much easier to find freelance
work. More and more businesses are recruiting
specialists on-demand to help complete projects rather
than managing it all in-house, so finding a good supply
of freelance work can help you maintain a lucrative and
ever-growing career.

Explore new Opportunities with


Field Engineer

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