Everyone wants to know what kind of pay their education can get them. However, as with many fields, the exact computer science degree salary you qualify for depends on many factors. 

Let's answer these wage questions by looking at salary expectations for computer science graduates in the field's most common occupations. 

What's the average salary for a computer science graduate?

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for computer and information technology occupations was$91,250 in May 2020. 

Computer and information technology degrees earn graduates a median annual wage of$85,000, approximately$25,000 more than the average degree-holder.  

Computer science salaries vary by location, employer, experience, education, and position. According to PayScale, bachelor's graduates earn average base salaries of$88,000, master's graduates earn$106,000, and doctoral graduates earn$129,000. 

Some of the highest-paying careers with a computer science degree include computer network architects, software developers, and computer and information research scientists. 

Computer scientists earn$68,000 in entry-level positions,$100,000 in mid-career positions, and$121,000 in advanced positions.

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Top-paying computer science jobs, by specialization

Every specialization has an internal job market and economy. Below, we spotlight the computer science degree salary potential for common specializations. 

Salary data below is drawn from Payscale. 

Artificial intelligence

Professionals with artificial intelligence specialization skills earn average annual base salaries of$125,000. Several occupations have salaries that exceed$200,000 in their upper ranges. The following are some of the highest-paying positions. 

• Chief data scientist
• Head of analytics
• Vice president of engineering

Computer information systems

Graduates with a bachelor's in computer information systems earn average annual base salaries of$74,000. Depending on their level of education and experience, professionals in this field can earn more than$150,000. Here are several of the careers with the highest computer science degree salary.  

• Vice president of business development
• Database architect
• Product manager

Computer programming

Computer programming professionals earn average annual base salaries of$65,307. Once they acquire senior-level or management positions, programmers can earn salaries that can fall between$120,000-$160,000. Here are a few of the top-paying positions in this field.

• Chief technology officer
• Software engineering manager
• Director of engineering

Cybersecurity

Professionals with cybersecurity skills earn average annual base salaries of$91,000. In upper-level roles, professionals can earn between$150,000-$230,000 each year. The highest-paying positions often include:

• Chief information security officer
• Security manager/director
• Security engineer

Data science

Data science skills earn professionals average annual base salaries of$116,000. The top positions in this industry can reach salaries in the$200,000-$250,000 range. Top data scientist jobs include:

• Director of analytics/data science 
• Head of data science 
• Principal data scientist

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