How Much Do Computer Science Majors Actually Earn in the US? A Full Breakdown of the Department of Labor's 2025 Official Data

"Studying computer science means good job prospects and high salaries" is almost the most common thing we hear in university admissions counseling. But exactly how high, compared to what, and from which year's data—few people can say clearly. This article lays out the official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) under the U.S. Department of Labor—including the less flattering parts.

The Bottom Line: Two Numbers to Keep Straight

The BLS uses two completely different sets of statistics, and the "annual salary for computer science majors in the U.S." circulating online often mixes them up:

• $109,470—the median annual salary for workers in computer and information technology occupations (May 2025). This answers "how much do people in this field earn."
• $100,000—the median annual salary for people who majored in computer science for their bachelor's degree. This answers "how much do people with this major earn," regardless of what job they currently hold.

When helping students and parents make decisions, the second number is more honest. It includes those who switched to management, sales, or finance, as well as those who didn't make it into the IT industry—which is the real answer to "what kind of income level can I expect if my child majors in computer science." The first number assumes "graduates stay in this field," excluding those who didn't from the denominator.

For reference: the median annual salary for all occupations in the U.S. is $50,980 (May 2025). Computer and IT occupations are 2.1 times that amount. This multiplier is what's truly worth remembering, as it offsets inflation and year-to-year differences.

By Occupation: Medians and 10-Year Projections for Nine Roles

All figures below are median annual salaries for May 2025, and employment growth is the BLS projection for the 10-year period from 2025 to 2035:

Three Easily Overlooked Facts

1. Median Is Not Starting Salary

Every number above is the median for all workers in the field, which includes seasoned professionals with 10 or 20 years of experience. A fresh graduate's first job will typically pay significantly less than this. The BLS data does not provide starting salaries, so any claim that $135,980 is the "starting salary for software engineers" is simply wrong.

2. The Divide Within "Computer Science" Is Bigger Than You Think

Even under the same "computer" umbrella, the highest-paying role (Systems Managers at $175,140) is 2.8 times that of the lowest (User Support at $61,860). What's even more noteworthy is the direction of growth:

• Computer Programmers: The BLS projects a 7% decline over the next decade;
• Computer Support roles are projected to decline by 3%;
• Meanwhile, Information Security (+21%), Research Scientists (+22%), and Systems Managers (+16%) are growing rapidly.

In other words, "majoring in computer science" doesn't automatically put you on the growth side. Roles that simply involve writing code according to instructions are shrinking, while those requiring judgment, security expertise, or management skills are expanding. This has far greater implications for course selection and internship directions than the overall median.

3. Education Requirements Vary Widely

The second-highest paying role in the table, "Computer and Information Research Scientists," has a typical entry requirement explicitly marked by the BLS as a Master's degree, and there are only about 38,600 such jobs nationwide—it's not a track you can enter right after a bachelor's degree. On the other hand, support roles have requirements as low as an associate's degree or even a certificate, with correspondingly lower salaries. When planning, you need to consider "what education level corresponds to this number."

How Big Is the Overall Industry?

• For computer and IT occupations, the BLS projects an average of about 280,000 job openings per year between 2025 and 2035 (including new jobs and replacements for turnover and retirements).
• Of these, software development, QA, and testing roles account for about 106,000 openings annually, making them the absolute main driver.
• There are currently about 193,000 Information Security Analysts employed nationwide, with an expected addition of about 40,600 jobs by 2035.
• From a "bachelor's major" perspective, there are approximately 2.99 million people in the U.S. with a bachelor's degree background in computer and information technology.

How to Use This Data for Planning

1. Keep the multiplier in mind, not the absolute value. Being 2.1 times the national median is a conclusion that holds true for years; the exact dollar amount changes every year.
2. Use the "major" metric to set baseline expectations, and the "occupation" metric to see the ceiling. $100,000 is the typical outcome for this major, while $135,980 is the median level for landing a software development role. The gap between the two must be bridged by specific skills and experience.
3. Follow the growth areas when choosing courses and internships. Security, AI/research, and systems architecture and management are the fastest-growing areas in BLS projections; pure coding and execution roles are shrinking.
4. Don't use the median as a starting salary to plan your tuition payback period. This is the most common miscalculation in university application budgets.

Data Sources and Methodology Notes

All data in this article comes from the individual occupation pages of the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, with data retrieved in September 2026. Specifically:

• Salary figures are the median annual wages for May 2025, sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS, employer survey);
• Employment growth is the BLS Employment Projections program's forecast for the 10-year period from 2025 to 2035;
• The "major" metric median of $100,000 and the 2.99 million figure come from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) data by the U.S. Census Bureau, compiled and published by the BLS on the "Field of degree" page—the year differs from the salary data above, which is one reason these two numbers cannot be directly subtracted and compared.

The original official text can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook on bls.gov. The data is updated annually, and the version cited in this article will eventually become outdated; please refer to the official releases for the most current information.

This article only compiles publicly available statistical data for reference and does not constitute a guarantee of any individual's income level, admissions, or employment outcomes. Actual personal income is influenced by multiple factors such as region, company, job level, and individual ability, and may differ significantly from the statistical median.