Are you wondering what area of study your recent college-bound freshmen will choose? Maybe you can help by giving them something to aim for! And let them know where they can find a job once they’ve earned that degree, as some people may like warmer weather while others prefer cooler climates. In fact, providing information about the wages they could earn with that potential degree might be the best advise you can give them as they prepare for their upcoming campus experience!
Let’s consider the Austin-Round Rock, Texas metropolitan statistical area (MSA), as an example of a potential scenario for the freshman that loves technology.
| NAICS | Industry | Empl |
Avg. Ann Wages |
Avg. Ann Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | 18,951 | $102,648 | 3.5% |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | 12,333 | $104,833 | 3.5% |
| 541513 | Computer Facilities Management Services | 252 | $82,476 | 3.6% |
| 541519 | Other Computer Related Services | 1,219 | $99,321 | 3.5% |
| 5415 | Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 32,755 | $103,246 | 3.5% |
| Source: JobsEQ - Note Employment is a 4-quarter average for the four quarters ending with 2016 Q1 | ||||
If this college-bound student is interested in living in Austin—a trendy location—the computer systems design services industry is booming! And with industry employment expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.5% over the next decade, job prospects in this industry look promising in four years at graduation.
Some well-paying jobs in the computer systems design services industry include the following for the Austin region:
| SOC | Title | Current Empl |
Regional Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-1143 | Computer Network Architects | 250 | $120,200 |
| 17-2061 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 115 | $110,100 |
| 17-2199 | Engineers, All Other | 17 | $102,900 |
| 15-1122 | Information Security Analysts | 146 | $102,200 |
| 15-1133 | Software Developers, Systems Software | 864 | $100,700 |
| Source: JobsEQ - note Employment is a 4-quarter average for the four quarters ending with 2016 Q1. Regional average wage is as of 2015. | |||
In terms of the number of people employed as computer hardware engineers, Austin is ranked as having the 9th most jobs of all metro areas in the nation for this occupation. There are 1,985 computer hardware engineers working in the Austin-Round Rock, MSA. With a cost of living index of 107.8 (where the U.S. is 100), Austin is about 8% more expensive than the national average. In the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA, the top MSA for employment of computer hardware engineers, the cost of living is a whopping 206.4—or about twice the national average. The wages for computer hardware engineers in San Jose region are much higher at $141,000 but housing in the San Jose MSA is expensive with a median house value of $654,800; the median house value in the Austin MSA is significantly lower at $196,500.
And speaking of hot jobs, Austin’s average July temperature is 96 degrees (F) while the San Jose region is a bit cooler with an average July around 82 degrees (F).