If you’re finishing up your degree in computer engineering, you have to decide what to actually do with it. But don’t worry! With the tech industry growing so rapidly, your skills are needed everywhere.
If you look past the typical tech jobs, you’ll find career paths you probably never thought of. As a computer engineering major, you might find a job in app development, 3D animation, or even forensics. Here’s a list of five surprising careers in computer engineering:
1. Game Developer
Average Salary: ~$97,000
Love video games? Become a game developer and create immersive stories, beautiful art, and complicated puzzles. You could work for larger companies or sign on with an indie team. Developing video games takes a lot of work, and someone needs to do the programming.
With your strong background in software, hardware, and coding, you’ll have a competitive edge in this industry. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your passion for gaming into a paid career, this computer engineering career path might be the perfect fit.
2. 3D Animator
Average Salary: ~$111,000
3D animation might seem a far cry from circuits and motherboards, but all that technical training you earned in school will make a big difference. As a 3D animator, you’ll channel your creativity to design beautiful scenes and characters, then use your skill with algorithms, rendering, and computer graphics to bring them to life.
Combine your creativity with your computer engineering degree, and you’ll stand out in this field. So if you have a knack for visual art and design, this is an excellent career in computer engineering to consider!
3. Forensic Computer Analyst
Average Salary: ~$116,000
If you ever watched an action movie with the “guy in the chair” and thought you could do it better, this might be the job for you. A forensic computer analyst investigates digital crimes, data breaches, and online threats for government agencies or private companies.
With the cybersecurity skills and tech expertise from your computer engineering degree, you’ll be well-equipped for this role. If you’re interested in forensics, criminal investigations, and being the “guy in the chair,” this is a rewarding and impactful computer engineering career option.
4. UX/UI Designer
Average Salary: ~$147,000
We’ve all opened an outdated website and cringed at the bad design. As a UX/UI designer, you can change that. Every company with a digital presence needs UX/UI experts who can design user-friendly websites and mobile applications. You’ll ensure that users will have a pleasant, cringe-free experience with your company’s application.
Your computer engineering degree means you have the technical skills in coding, programming, and user testing they need. If you’re tired of bad website designs, this could be the computer engineering career for you.
5. Mobile App Developer
Average Salary: ~$102,000
Want to see your work on everyone’s smartphone? As a mobile app developer, you’ll design and build the apps we use every day, from banking to food delivery. Because every company wants a good app, the demand for app developers keeps on growing! And with your background in computer engineering and software development, you can build engaging, intuitive, and helpful applications!
If you liked your software courses and want to channel that into something everyone gets to use, this is the computer engineering job for you!
Where Will Your Computer Engineering Degree Take You?
If you’re exploring the job market right now, don’t limit yourself to the traditional computer engineering careers. With your degree, you can do so much more! You can choose between a variety of surprising careers, like 3D animation or mobile app development, forensic computer analysis, game development, or even UX design.
Each of these careers lets you use your computer engineering degree in a way that’s creative, surprising, and way more fun than the typical careers.
No matter which direction you choose, your computer engineering career opportunities are as limitless as the technology you’ll help create.
Check out the “Computer Engineering vs Computer Science” for the more conventional computer engineering jobs.
Citations:
Game Developer Salaries - Glassdoor
3D Animator Salaries - Glassdoor
Forensic Computer Analyst Salaries - Glassdoor
UX Designer Salaries - Glassdoor
Mobile App Developer Salary - Glassdoor