Is Programming a Lucrative Profession? 844
itwbennett writes "A pamphlet distributed by blogger Cameron Laird's local high school proclaimed that 'Computer Science BS graduates can expect an annual salary from $54,000-$74,000. Starting salaries for MS and PhD graduates can be to up to $100,000' and 'employment of computer scientists is expected to grow by 24 percent from 2010 to 2018.' The pamphlet lists The US Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics as a reference, so how wrong can it be? 'This is so wrong, I don't know where to start,' says Laird. 'There are a lot of ways to look at the figures, but only the most skewed ones come up with starting salaries approaching $60,000 annually, and I see plenty of programmers in the US working for less,' says Laird. At issue, though, isn't so much inaccurate salary information as what is happening to programming as a career: 'Professionalization of programmers nowadays strikes chords more like those familiar to auto mechanics or nurses than the knowledge workers we once thought we were,' writes Laird, 'we're expected to pay for our own tools, we're increasingly bound by legal entanglements, H1B accumulates degrading tales, and hyperspecialization dominates hiring decisions.'"
Depends.... (Score:5, Funny)
In my state you must have 10+ years in 5+ languages (even if the language is only 5 years old) and start at $8.00 an hour. Oh, and clerical/janitorial experience a plus!
Resume (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Putting a dollar figure down is problematic (Score:5, Funny)
As a native, I can say with authority that a $30K/year pay cut isn't the worst part about living in Cincinnati.
Don't do it! (Score:5, Funny)
Don't be a developer. They will work you 24/7. You will be cuffed to your desk most of the day. Your hair will turn gray and fall out around the edges so you'll have a friar cut. They'll water board you for overtime. They make you buy your own computer, desk, and chair. You aren't allowed outside except for one hour a day of supervised time in the yard. Coworkers will shank you with shivs made from sharpened USB drives. You'll have to gang up to get respect. First thing you'll have to do when you come to work is shank someone, to let them know you mean business! Wages are a lie. You'll be paid in honey buns and cans of tobacco so you can roll your own. If you work hard enough you can get a free day with your spouse, but this depends on company performance.
Overall being a developer is the most horrible job in the world. If I were young and choosing a career I would do something else. Like be a reality star or join the circus.
Re:grad vs masters vs phd the myth. (Score:5, Funny)
I can believe 54,000 grand.
I cannot. 54 grand I just might.
Re:grad vs masters vs phd the myth. (Score:5, Funny)
Because they might show up your grammar and spelling skills?
Re:Depends.... (Score:5, Funny)
Where I can I send my resume?
Re:Putting a dollar figure down is problematic (Score:2, Funny)
Why, WKRP is great! Actually I don't know that, but the opening theme is catchy.
Re:Don't do it! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Are nerds not aware (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Not if you have a magic time machine... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Putting a dollar figure down is problematic (Score:1, Funny)
As a native, I can say with authority that a $30K/year pay cut isn't the worst part about living in Cincinnati.
I can say as a native, that 60K you can live like a king, and DC's a MUCH worse place to live.
Re:Depends on specialization and responsibilities (Score:3, Funny)
EXACTLY!
You know where the REAL money is: Dead Programming languages.
You learn how to use Cobol - and then you spend the time searching for the ONE company in your city still using it, you go to him and say "I can keep things running exactly how they used to be."
And bam, you can demand any salary you want.
Re:Resume (Score:3, Funny)
C# and Cb
Re:Are nerds not aware (Score:3, Funny)
Following the "yellow brick"/gold road to to the glorious Emerald City is a safe route. Venture from that road and you find all kinds of strange creatures who were "broke" or you lose track of your goals in a field of sleep inducing flowers were you will be dependent on someone else to save you. The wicked witch of the east (aka, King of England from the East?) had to be "cut off" from the little people who were just trying to make it at a the origin of the yellow road (founding of the country and the gold standard?)
I may be reaching on the witch aspect, but I never thought of it like that before. I guess it works.
Re:i think when plumbing was first invented (Score:4, Funny)
They wore togas in ancient Rome, so instead of the crack you got to see the whole ass.
Re:Don't do it! (Score:1, Funny)
Is that you , Hans?
Re:Salary (Score:2, Funny)
I have a bachelor's degree from a top-10 CS dept in US, and am thankful to be gainfully employed, but they just want me for my Java
Hey! I started as the coffee boy too!
Re:No, it's $9 - Actual Reply to US Craigslist Pos (Score:5, Funny)
Stop hiring Rajesh FFS!
Re:Depends on specialization and responsibilities (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Are nerds not aware (Score:3, Funny)
It's an excellent analogy because that's how managers and other non-computer scientists in many (maybe most) workplaces view their software developers, software engineers, web developers, sysadms, etc.
No, it's an excellent analogy because chicks dig mechanics.
"So what exactly do you do?" "I'm a mechanic baby!" - She can find out you're a "computer mechanic" much much later, preferably after sex ;-)