Which jobs does each degree lead to?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks five occupations tied to these two majors. Each row below pairs the job with a degree. It uses May 2025 median pay and the 2025 to 2035 outlook.
| Job | Median pay | Outlook 2025-35 | Openings per year | Closer degree fit |
|---|
| Software developers | $135,980 | +10% | 106,100 with QA | Computer science |
| Information security analysts | $129,180 | +21% | 14,100 | Either, and IT ops experience is common |
| Computer systems analysts | $105,850 | +8% | 32,900 | Information technology |
| Software QA analysts and testers | $104,300 | +6% | - | Either |
| Network and computer systems administrators | $99,130 | -4% | 13,400 | Information technology |
Two rows on that list explain most of the split. Software developers earn the most and fit the computer science side. Computer systems analysts earn $105,850 and fit the information technology side. BLS says business and management information systems coursework helps in that job.
Information security analysts earn $129,180 and grow 21 percent through 2035. BLS says many of them come from IT work such as network administration. That role sits between the two majors.
One row gets less attention than it deserves. Software QA analysts and testers earned a median of $104,300 in May 2025. That job grows 6 percent through 2035.
Which degree pays more and grows faster?
Computer science wins on the top end. BLS reports a median of $135,980 for software developers in May 2025. That job grows 10 percent from 2025 to 2035. The BLS software developers page counts developer and QA openings together. That comes to about 106,100 a year.
Information technology wins on volume. Computer systems analysts grow 8 percent and add about 32,900 openings a year. Only the combined developer and QA group adds more openings on this list.
One IT path shrinks. The BLS network and computer systems administrators page lists a median of $99,130. It also shows a projected loss of 13,200 jobs through 2035.
Even so, about 13,400 openings a year come from people leaving the work. Some employers also accept a postsecondary certificate or an associate degree for the job. That shrinking role narrows the entry path without closing the door.
Which degree fits you?
Pick computer science if you want to write code and study how machines work. Pick information technology if you want to design and support business systems.
Some people enjoy theory and proofs and building from scratch. Others enjoy keeping a running system healthy for everyone who depends on it. The information technology degree vs computer science decision starts with which of those fits you.
The security field rewards IT experience. BLS notes that information security analysts often come from IT roles. That job pays a median of $129,180 and grows 21 percent. Network and systems administration work is a common way in.
Money follows the same split. The developer track pays more at the median, $135,980. The analyst and admin tracks sit between $99,130 and $105,850. Those roles still add steady openings every year.
If you want to test the waters before enrolling, a shorter credential can help. Our guide to the best IT certifications without a degree covers shorter options. None of them need a full program.
Comparing programs rather than majors takes a different search. Start with the best online computer science degree programs. Then check the best online universities for IT degrees. For school-by-school checks, our accredited online colleges for computer science list shows what to verify.
What should you do next?
Start with the job postings. Search the two roles that interest you most. Then read the degree lines in ten postings for each role. The pattern across those lines tells you what employers ask for.
Then open the program catalog and ignore the degree title. Two schools can list the same title with different course lists. Compare the required classes against the CIP definition for the code you want.
If the postings come back split, you have your answer. If they lean one way, that is the degree to finish.
Photo: 12019, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/language-lab-college-university-181083/)
Fazlur Rahman
