Is it possible to imagine a world without smartphones, video games, laptops, or Fitbits? The answer is simply no because our lives and routines have increasingly relied on these devices.
Technological innovations and gadgets are becoming more prevalent, as is the demand for professionals who work in these fields. One of them is Computer engineering.
Directly or indirectly, every industry needs the services of a computer engineer. In the financial industry, these professionals provide software that makes accountants’ work easier. Whereas in the healthcare industry, they provide CAT scans, wearables, and robotics.
In short, computer engineers play a key role in almost every industry since they are in charge of running things efficiently, troubleshooting issues, and resolving them.
However, before considering computer engineering as your career, you must understand it.
What Is Computer Engineering?
Computer engineering refers to the science and technology that design, build, implement, and maintain modern computer systems and computer-controlled equipment.
In the past, computer engineering was viewed as a combination of computer science (CS) and electrical engineering (EE). It has grown into a separate field within the past three decades.
By designing computing hardware, software, networks, and processes, computer engineering combines the theories and principles of computing, mathematics, science, and engineering to solve technical problems.
In computer engineering, technological advancement and innovation are continuous processes. The convergence of technologies and innovation that underpins the development and future of many organizations has presented challenges and opportunities for computer engineers.
If you want to learn more about this field, its career prospects, the roles of a computer engineer, and the skills they learn in the program, Google “what is computer engineering” or browse through this link. After reviewing the detailed overview of the program offered by Ohio University, you will have a much easier time making your decision.
Benefits Of Computer Engineering
Once you’ve decided, enroll yourself for a great start by registering in a reputable institution. Learning new skills and ideas is crucial in this field and will pay off in the future.
An exciting career in computer engineering will bring many advantages. Some of them are as follows:
- Great Income
Positions in information technology and computer science pay extremely well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these positions earned an average of $84,580 in 2017, more than twice the national average.
However, some positions don’t require a master’s degree in computer engineering, such as web developer and computer support technician.
A typical computer and information scientist earns $114,520 and holds a master’s degree. Median earnings for computer hardware engineers were $115,120, with the top 10% earning more than $176,900.
- Travel Freedom
A computer engineer is needed in almost every major city in the world so they can live wherever they want, within certain limits. It is not uncommon for manufacturers of internet-connected cars and appliances to hire computer engineers. Additionally, many large companies manage their computers and databases using their engineers and staff.
If you are a person who really enjoys traveling, this field is the best choice. You can make a career as a consultant with a specialization in information security.
Additionally, you can choose to be a cyber-security consultant. These professionals help companies protect their data from cyberattacks. The best thing is, you can work on a project basis, and as soon the work is completed, you can travel to find another one.
- Different Work on Different Days
Many people complain that they feel like they are doing the same thing every day, just in a different way. But a career in computer engineering will offer something new almost every day. As the field advances continuously, each day will expand their knowledge and provide new ideas for different problems.
Developing better and more optimized versions of existing products is another goal of computer engineers. Technological advancements and trends must be considered when creating innovative solutions, which can be very exciting for professionals who like staying current and enjoy solving problems.
By building a career in this field, you will have many opportunities for new tasks, responsibilities, and innovations.
- Multiple Job Opportunities
The use of computers and technology in virtually every industry and business sector means that computer engineers have a wide range of employment opportunities. As per the U.S Bureau of Labor and Statistics, this field is expected to grow by 17% from 2014-2024.
Moreover, they can earn extra through freelancing. At the initial stage of your career, you can get experience through multiple companies available on fiver and Upwork.
- Competitive analysis
The ability to manage and manipulate a large amount of data is itself a competitive advantage for computer engineers. Moreover, budgeting, planning, and forecasting are powerful methods of staying ahead of the competition, go beyond standard analysis, and are easy to implement.
It is also possible for businesses to track their competitors’ sales and marketing performance to learn how to differentiate their products and services from their competitors. The business could only benefit from the services of computer engineers.
- High Job Satisfaction
Due to the challenging nature of computer engineering and the fact that they constantly learn new skills, they have generally found their jobs very satisfying.
- Job Security
Compared with other professions, computer engineers have a very high level of job security. Over the past two decades, these jobs have been in high demand, and the trend will likely continue.
As determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2016, the average growth rate for all U.S. jobs over the next decade will be about 5%. Software developers are expected to experience a 24% job growth, and information security analysts’ position growth is about 28%.
But of course, there will not be the same frantic demand for every job in computer engineering. For instance, computer hardware engineers and network architects are expected to grow about 5% on average.
Conclusion
Computer engineering jobs are offered across industries and employers as more and more people use computers for business and personal purposes.
Degrees in computer engineering (and computer science) can lead to various careers. Due to the demand for highly-skilled workers to fill these positions, most of these positions offer lucrative salaries.
Anyone who loves working with computer hardware and software likes solving problems, and wants to help businesses perform better might find computer engineering jobs a good career choice.
