Learn about computer science salaries for various professionals and how factors like industry, location, education, certifications, and company can influence them.
Now can be the right time to start or advance your career in computer science. The computer and information technology-related industry has grown by 20 per cent since 2023 to become a 1.2 trillion dollar industry in the UK []. With this in mind, let鈥檚 look at computer scientists' salaries and the various factors that can influence them, such as education level, location, and certifications.
Computer scientists are experts in working with computers and technology. They study how data is processed, stored, and communicated to apply it to software and programmes.听
Computer scientists work as computer hardware engineers in computer programming, research, analytics, and information security, to name a few. Jobs in the computer science field cover a vast spectrum, as technology accounts for such a large part of our lives.
Computer scientists automate systems, create the processes in our smartphones, and fly us to the moon鈥攇iven these accomplishments, the possibilities are nearly endless. Since computers are used in almost every business, typical employers are information technology (IT) service providers. Opportunities are available in IT departments in major organisations in various sectors, such as financial services, aerospace and defence, and manufacturing.听
According to Glassdoor, the median salary of a computer scientist is 拢57,347, with a range of 拢32,000 up to 拢58,000 []. Here are some other roles and median salaries that computer scientists may work in:
Computer programmers: 拢39,245
Database architects: 拢65,250听
Computer systems analysts: 拢35,309
Information security: 拢55,026
Computer network technicians: 拢32,150听
Computer and information systems managers: 拢45,829
Factors such as your industry experience, training, and location will influence a computer scientist's salary. Consider looking into the following to maximise your earnings:
A degree in computer science or a related field tends to be a prerequisite for most positions and may optimise your chances of getting hired. However, a computer science degree is not always required to become a computer scientist. In a very fast-paced, evolving discipline, experience is valued highly, keeping up with trends and engaging in self-directed learning. A degree will generally put you in a better place to gain a more technical or specialist role.
Additional certifications in computer science can help you enter specialist positions, which often come with a higher earning potential. You can pursue several certifications, including vendor-specific ones, such as Microsoft and Cisco, which companies who use these products might ask for. Another option is vendor-neutral certificates, such as those offered by CompTIA and ISC. Vendor-neutral certifications can help you progress your career across companies rather than being limited to a particular vendor.听
To maximise your salary in computer science without a degree, you may consider an as a starting point.
Your experience level may impact your salary potential. Salaries in this field tend to increase with the years you鈥檝e been a computer scientist and as you rise to more senior positions. The following is an average breakdown, according to PayScale []:
Early Career: 拢51,320听
Mid Career 拢62,720
Late Career: 拢71,122
Many industries are looking to recruit computer scientists and other computer science professionals. Any company with a tech department will likely need a computer scientist, so where you work is very flexible. However, not all industries are equal when it comes to salary.
The following are median earnings within the UK's digital sector in 2023, according to data collected by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology []:
Computer programming, consultancy, and related services: 拢51,334
Telecommunications: 拢44,990
Software publishing: 拢65,000
Film, TV, video, radio, and music: 拢42,994
Wholesale of computers and electronics: 拢35,984
Repair of computers and communication equipment: 拢28,413
Information services activities: 拢46,301
Publishing (excluding translation and interpretation activities): 拢39,998
Manufacturing of electronics and computers: 拢40,040
Computer science salaries vary from employer to employer. This can be due to the industry and size of the company, as well as its area of expertise. Large tech companies, such as Google, are among the highest-paying employers, with an average salary of 拢132,000, while Adobe pays an average of $102,000 [闭.听听
Smaller firms with lower budgets tend to have wages that reflect it. A small company with a smaller budget will prioritise positions most important to their organisation. Rather than a whole IT department, a smaller company may have a CTO with multiple roles until it has the budget to recruit more people.
In many industries, where you live and work can impact your earnings. Computer science salaries in the UK are highest in London, where the salary is 23.06 percent above the national average [].
For average salaries, it鈥檚 important to consider the cost of living, as higher salaries often compensate for higher living costs.
In recent years, the number of remote computer science roles have started to increase, with 56 percent of tech industry employees working remote in some capacity in 2024 []. Not only does this mean you have more opportunities available, but some of the highest-paid jobs in computer science are remote. This is because more senior roles come with the autonomy of working outside of the office.听
Computer science roles and salaries are varied since they are prevalent across several industries and specialities. Here is a breakdown of average salaries for different types of computer science-related roles:
*All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of June 2025.
Software architect: 拢71,062
Dev ops engineer: 拢43,974
Software engineer: 拢49,414
Mobile application developer: 拢45,764
Cybersecurity analyst: 拢37,016
To start as a computer scientist, explore a bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 degree in computer science offered on 糖心vlog官网观看. Consider the to help put you on the path to higher-paid opportunities.
If you have no experience in the field, you can consider taking an entry-level Course like as a starting point.
1. UK Tech News. 鈥, https://www.uktech.news/news/uk-tech-sector-now-worth-1-2-trillion-hsbc-report-finds-20250113." Accessed 13 June 2025.听
2. Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/uk-computer-scientist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,21.htm.鈥 Accessed 13 June 2025.
3. Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Lead_Software_Engineer/Salary.鈥 Accessed 13 June 2025.
4. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. ", https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/economic-estimates-employment-and-earnings-in-the-digital-sector-january-2023-to-december-2023." Accessed 13 June 2025.
5. Statista. ", https://www.statista.com/statistics/800644/full-time-weekly-wage-uk-by-region/." Accessed 13 June 2025.
6. Techspace. ", https://storage.techspace.co/marketing/direct/Techspace_Scaleup_Culture_Report_2024_v2-3.pdf." Accessed 13 June 2025.
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