Software developer
$70,000 – $120,000
The default path, co-op experience decides speed
Degree guide
what can i do with a computer science degree?
Still one of the highest-floor degrees you can hold — and the era of 'CS degree equals automatic job' is over. What the market actually rewards now, honestly.
The degree is necessary-ish but no longer sufficient
The junior market corrected hard after 2022, and AI is compressing routine coding. What still clears interviews: internships/co-ops (non-negotiable — treat them as part of the degree), systems depth, and a domain. The grads struggling are the ones who did only the coursework; the ones fielding offers built things and can explain them.
Jobs and salary context
Typical Canadian ranges from Job Bank medians, checked Oct 2026. Actual outcomes vary by role, location, experience, and employer.
Data engineer / analyst
$70,000 – $110,000
Less crowded than dev right now
DevOps / cloud engineer
$80,000 – $125,000
Infrastructure skills stay scarce
Cybersecurity analyst
$75,000 – $115,000
Structural shortage, certification-friendly
Product manager (technical)
$85,000 – $130,000
CS + communication is the recipe
Embedded / firmware developer
$75,000 – $115,000
Hardware-adjacent, chronically under-applied
FAQ
Is computer science still worth it with AI?
As a degree in how computation works — yes, arguably more than ever, because someone must design, verify and own what AI produces. As a ticket to effortless employment — that version ended. The differentiators are now co-ops, systems depth and communication.
CS degree vs bootcamp vs self-taught?
The degree wins for first jobs at large companies and anything systems-deep; bootcamps and self-taught routes still work with exceptional portfolios but face the tightened junior market hardest. If university is available to you, CS remains the strongest version of this path.
Which CS specialization should I pick?
Security, data/ML infrastructure and embedded systems currently have the best supply-demand ratios. Pure web development is the most crowded lane. Specialize by third year — the market has stopped paying for generic.