When it comes to salaries, it seems like they aren’t that much different. The median annual salary for computer scientists was $122,840 per year in 2019. Whereas the median annual salary for computer engineers was $117,220 per year.

Education

Another great factor that one should consider when being between two choices is the education requirements to enter that specific field. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at computer science and computer engineering education requirements.

Computer science education requirements

Like in any other field, you will need to fulfill a few educational requirements to land a job in computer science. However, it all depends on the kind of job you’re eyeing. For some, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science is more than enough, whereas some jobs might require a higher level of education like a master’s degree. If we do some quick calculations, it will take from four (for a bachelor’s degree) to six years (a bachelor’s degree plus the master’s degree) to finally join the computer science field.

Computer engineering education requirements

As for the computer engineering field, a bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum education level required. The potential employee should have earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, computer programming, or a similar computer-related field.

Specializations

Getting a degree in computer science and computer engineering might be the goal for some. However, getting a general degree in one of these fields isn’t the only option. You can also choose among different subdisciplines that are offered under the umbrella of these programs. Luckily, there are subdisciplines to choose from for both of these fields that can help you narrow down your study focus.