Most computer scientists possess a PhD, M.S., or Bachelor's degree in computer science, or other similar fields like Information and Computer Science (CIS), a closely related discipline such as mathematics3 or physics.4
Employment prospects for computer scientists are said to be excellent. Such prospects seem to be attributed, in part, to very rapid growth in computer systems design and related services industry, and the software publishing industry, which are projected to be among the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy.5
Computer scientists are often hired by software publishing firms, scientific research and development organizations, or universities where they develop the theories and computer models that allow new technologies to be developed.
Computer scientists can follow more practical applications of their knowledge, doing things such as software engineering. They can also be found in the field of information technology consulting, and may be seen as a type of mathematician, given how much of the field depends on mathematics.6 Computer scientists employed in industry may eventually advance into managerial or project leadership positions.7
Orsucci, Franco F.; Sala, Nicoletta (2008). Reflexing Interfaces: The Complex Coevolution of Information Technology Ecosystems, Information Science Reference. p. 335. ISBN 978-1599046273. 978-1599046273 ↩
"Computer and Information Research Scientists". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2019. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Computer-and-Information-Technology/Computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm ↩
"Fields of Employment for Physics Bachelors in the Private Sector, tuty of 2010 & 2012 Combined". American Physical Society. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2019. https://www.aps.org/careers/statistics/bsprivatesec.cfm ↩
"Computing Disciplines & Majors" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019. https://www.acm.org/binaries/content/assets/education/computing-disciplines.pdf ↩
Perry, Benjamin Beau. "What is a computer scientist?". The University of Newcastle. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2019. http://people.cs.ksu.edu/~bbp9857/cs.html ↩