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Comment by dorkrawk | Hacker News Reader

Most people who get a BS in biology end up becoming scientific biologists, though they might apply things that they've learned about biology in more practitioner type careers. Most people who get a BS in computer science don't go on to be "computer scientists", though they hopefully apply things they've learned in practitioner type careers. Of course people without serious research oriented training/education/focus aren't going to be professional scientists.

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Most people who define themselves as having a BS in bio (as opposed to it merely being a stepping stone) work as lab techs ranging from $10/hr pharmacy techs up to maybe $25/hr at a med testing lab in an expensive cost of living area. At least in the old days. Currently, probably near half end up as waitresses and bartenders, completely out of the field.

Most people who get a BS in computer science (not as a stepping stone to a PHD or whatever, etc) end up on helpdesks, maybe pulling cable or replacing mice, not doing anything scientific. Basically like the bio lab techs, it amounts to training not education. The top 25% or so, maybe less, might get software dev jobs or maybe system/network admin jobs. Even in current conditions, most will end up in their field, maybe $8/hr no benes at a call center but at least more or less in their field. The HN crowd tends a bit toward the upper level of the pack, so yes, most HN readers have it far better than median.

>Most people who get a BS in computer science (not as a stepping stone to a PHD or whatever, etc) end up on helpdesks, maybe pulling cable or replacing mice...

I'm gonna need to see some evidence to back that up before I believe it. Based on the experiences of everyone I know with a CS degree, that is completely wrong.

Are you confusing CS with CIS?

>maybe $8/hr no benes at a call center but at least more or less in their field.

I made more than $8 an hour at my first retail job. If you have a CS degree and you're making $8 an hour, something is very wrong.

I tried googling around and cannot find any direct evidence. I will say there is a feast/famine effect and right now in the hot areas looks better than I've seen since the late 90s.

> late 90s

Ahh, that explains it.

I know a fair number of people with a wide range of CS-type BS degrees from vocational schools up to top tier universities. None of them are working "$8/hr no benes" jobs. It sounds like you're just being unnecessarily pessimistic.

Here's an article that lists the average starting salary with a CS degree as $56K ( http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/04/12/college-de... ) And another that lists CS major unemployment at 4.3%

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