The Average Salary for a Master's in Computer Science

Those with a master’s degree in computer science can expect an employment advantage in fields that require the design and development of software, such as software engineering and computer programming. These jobs entail developing applications, operating systems, network control systems or even computer games.

Job

According to PayScale, salaries for degree holders depend largely on the type of job. As of May 2010, software engineers received and average of $67,383 annually, while senior engineers earned $92,550. Lead software developers made $103,287, while IT project managers made $95,208, on average. Senior software architects earn $108,479, while software engineering Directors average $134,456.

Experience

Compensation increases with experience, starting at $59,333 for beginning employees. With one to four years of experience, those with a master's degree in computer science earn $66,609, and at five to nine years, they earn $83,165, on average. Finally, at 10 to 19 years, $101,360 is the median salary, and at 20 or more years, the average salary is $110,813.

Employer

The type of employer plays a large role in determining page range, with self-employed individuals averaging $60,000, and those working for companies making $87,443, on average. Those in the federal government earn the highest salaries at $97,592, while those in state and local entities make $61,042, on average. Colleges and universities pay $57,827 while school districts pay a median salary of $52,381. Finally, those in nonprofit organizations earn an average of $71,604, while those in hospitals receive $70,000.

Location

Geographical location can also affect salary, with New York paying the most at $103,633, followed closely by San Jose at $102,589. Those in San Francisco earn $101,478, while those in Seattle earn $98,512, on average. Finally, those in Boston receive $97,887, while those in Atlanta make $80,988, on average.

By state, New York leads the way with $98,325, followed closely by California at $95,994. Those in Illinois average $74,826, while those in Massachusetts average $90,391. Finally, degree holders in New Jersey receive a median salary of $89,339, while those in Washington make $89,496.

Outlook

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not single out master’s degree holders in computer science, it does predict that software engineers and programmers will experience job growth of 21 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than average for all occupations. Much of this demand will come from increases in computer networking and Internet technologies. The growing use of computers and related technology by businesses, government and telecommuters will also require the services of computer experts.