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October 09, 2007, 12:05 PM ET
Good News for Computer Science Grads -- Sort of
Starting salaries for college graduates with computer science degrees are up, hitting their highest levels in seven years, according to a recent survey. But midcareer workers at big employers may face layoffs and “restructuring.” These two trends are somewhat connected, unfortunately.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers reported last month that the average salary offer to a computer science graduate was $53,051 in 2007, up 4.5 percent from last year. Students graduating with management information systems degrees received average starting salaries of $49,966, up 5.9 percent from last year.
Employers face a shrinking labor pool, since the number of computer science graduates has dropped significantly since the turn of this century. Laws of supply and demand apply, so companies compete harder and pay more for a smaller supply of qualified graduates.
That’s the good news. But as companies pay more for new workers, and struggle to compete in a crowded marketplace, midcareer workers with larger salaries become a tempting target for budget-cutters. Computerworld reports this week on major staff cuts at Intel and Sun Microsystems, and pressures for staff reductions elsewhere.
So computer science still seems like a tricky career arc. People are in demand fresh out of school, but may become more vulnerable as they gain seniority. —Josh Fischman
Categories: Student-Life
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