is computer engineering a lucrative career?
92310
I believe so. I am a computer engineer and the year I graduated from college computer engineers had one of the highest average starting salaraes (2004). 10k more than Computer Science. As a computer engineer you have many more options that a strict computer scientist, or a strict electrical engineer.
59586
The short answer is that it all depends.  There are many different types of “computer engineering” that correspond to the different kinds of products created: hardware, software, server-side, client-side, mobile, embedded, etc.  Within any given product category, there are also many different roles.  For example, in software engineering, there are architects, requirements analysts, quality assurance specialists (testers), and coders (programmers).  For any given product type and specialty, you can work for either a big corporation or a small company, or even work independently as a consultant.  That is a lot of variables.  There is no one single “computer engineering” career.\n\nIf you are asking if you can make a lot of money in the IT (Information Technology) field, the answer is yes, but not as much as in recent years.  There is a growing trend to outsource many aspects of IT to cheaper labor markets which, together with the bursting of the dot-com bubble, has resulted in downward pressure on salaries.  In 1999 the market was pretty tight, and anyone with a computer degree, or even just a few years of college, could get a job and probably snag a signing bonus in the process.  Nowadays, many developers, especially senior, more experienced (and therefore more expensive) ones, are finding it harder to get new jobs.  Some have been unemployed for a year or more.\n\nIf you want to see for yourself what the salary situation looks like for software engineers in particular, you can visit sdmagazine.com.  I think that they have last year's (2004) salary survey available – select the menu option “Features” and then the sub-menu option “Salary Survey”.  If you want to see the effect of a global market and outsourcing on freelance jobs, check out one of the many freelance sites like rentacoder.com or guru.com.  Some very talented folks out there are willing to do a lot of work for a lot less than we (here in the US) have been getting traditionally.  It is a different world now.\n\nThe bottom line is this: do you like it?  If you enjoy the challenge of being both creative and technical at the same time, and if you don't mind spending a lot of time keeping up with changes in the field, then it will be a good career for you.  Whether or not you make a lot of money, you will be happy, which in my book at least, is what it means to be successful.  If you really like it, you will probably get very good at it, which in the end will translate into a better salary.  But don't go into this field if you are only interested in the money -- which could be said of every career field, but I think it is especially true of software development.
1070553
I asked a couple friends, one that owns a large IT service center and another that has a B.S. in Computer Science.  They both agreed that it would be best to start in your career now with what you have. Then go back to school and get some more knowledge.  They both agree that knowledge is 49% of what gets you paid and experience is 51%\n\nBut the choice is yours, it's your future, don't let anyone decide for you
663016
Hi there. Engineering quite a good career to go into. When you study engineering, you will find out that actually engineering student are mostly chosen by the work force. Sometime even chosen to be a sales personnel and so on. Engineering is not a bad field to go into. \n\nBut than my recommendation is to go for something you like. Don't just because you think that that field had no future or crappy and so on and choose not to join. \n\nAnyway i am engineering student. I think it is fun but tedious sometime.
783764
A computer science degree is important and useful, but not essential. Most important are good analytical skills and and an understanding of the problems that business people face, otherwise known as the problem domain.\n\nChoose an area of business usage, such as forms processing, on-line access, search and retrieval, or information handling in a specific industry such as government, banking or insurance, and you will be in great demand. Most people over generalize their skills and don't excel at anything. By knowing a business persons problem and understanding how software and computers can solve that problem, you are almost unique.
368558
It depends on your luck.\n\nDon't select just because it is lucrative. If you are not interested, then it is more than hell.\n\nFor computer engineering, you need good brains. But for 70% of the jobs are sort of routine jobs. An average person can do them easily.\n\nIf you are interested in computers and good at logical thinking then it is best choice.
511991
UK Answer.\n\nThere isn't one. Software Engineers like all other professionals are paid based on their skills and how scarce or in demand those skills are.\n\nA junior programmer just starting out might only get paid somewhere in the region of £18k-20k. An engineer with good skills in an in demand field might earn as much as £50k-60k but I would say that this kind of salary would be quite unusual. Typically someone with good skills and a number of years relevant and up to date experience might expect to earn about £35k.\n\nThere are loads of job sites around that you can use to investigate this further.
532243
Currently, computer programming is the highest paying field in computers, and software engineers are the highest paid computer programmers.
1032988
You can get rich from anything you just have to have it in you to want to succeed. There are computer Engineers that are un-employed cause they don't want to work and there are some kids working part time when they are going to school and they are running their own business. It's up to you do you want to be rich and are you willing to work for it.\n\nThe easiest way to get rich is o stay focused and set goals. Meet those goals and set news ones. You must be realistic or you will just fail. Computers are the futire so you already have the upper hand.\n\nGo to school to become a computer engineer and get top marks. Then try to get an internship or co-op while in school to build experience. Then apply for as many jobs as possible when you graduate. After a few years of working for someone else try to start your own business. Remember money isn't everything you must love what you do.
1118441
This is hell, trying to find a career/ pick a major.  The money is healthcare--nursing especially.  Engineering majors always do well, but you have to love math. Ew. Computer science is great too.  Plenty of money there.  Business majors have decent prospects.  Liberal arts--you won't be rich, but you will still have the dignity of the college degree.  You can make a career with any of these degrees.  Just pick one. Okay, I don't have time to type all this. Let me tell you where to look.  \n\nYou have to search for "most lucrative majors" to get articles like this one.  Do the search.  There are a couple of sources that have articles like this one.  \n\nhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/21/pf/college/starting_salaries/\n\nOkay, you need to go to 'America's Job Bank.'  Then click on 'labor market info' on the right. This lets you search the labor market...what jobs are out there.  This site is where the info is.  You need to get familiar with this place.\n\nhttp://www.careerinfonet.org/acinet/occ_rep.asp?id=1&nodeid=2  \n\nWhen you can't decide on a major, just f-ing pick something that's easy--like political science.  You will be good just to have a degree.  Seriously.\n\nBy the way, research shows that after people make 40,000 a year, additional pay raises don't really increase their happiness.  Don't worry about the money.  Just pick something.
499211
Yes. If you become a web developer you have good challenging work. You can earn good as well. So its a good career option.
589292
Support IT is a great career choice with many advances possible. Yes, you will be doing support calls for a time but you have to start somewhere. While doing that you can get more classes under your belt in the field of business or higher computer education such as communication theory or whatever you like. CS BS is a good spring board into whatever it is you're looking to do in computers.\n\nKeep your attitude up and all else will fall into place. Any major engineering company will have a position for you. It may not be exactly what you want but once you're in you can work your way around.
742070
Starting salary greatly depends on the type of engineering discipline.  For bachelor's degree you Chemical engineering and Biomedical engineering pay A LOT more than electrical Engineering and Computer science.  Mechanical engineering is somewhere in the middle.\n\nDecent these days is something like $45-55K.
71691
I've been a software engineer for 22 years now, and I've always found it to be a rewarding and enjoyable profession.\n\nThe wonderful part of technology, is that it does pay quite well. Even average engineers here in the Silicon Valley make over $100,000 a year.\n\nThe cost of admission however is high. We work long hours (60-80 hours a week) which takes its toll on our private lives. We have more money, but have much less time to spend it.\n\nIf you're young and love computers, its a great life. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over the age of forty. It's a young persons game.
1176949
Yes, it's a good paying job.  Any company that's heavy in electronics/machinery needs electrical engineers.
202702
They're all very different.  Electrical Engineering and Chemical Engineering have historically been among the highest paying engineering disciplines, but it's hard to do well in ANY engineering discipline if you don't enjoy the work.  And in the end, I'd say it's better to like your job than to make more money.  In engineering, if you're good at what you do, generally your opportunities will get better.\n\nI studied Computer Science in school and really enjoy what I do, but I know people who absolutely HATE it, and it's not worth picking a career if you don't think you'd like it.
616989
First of all ur area of interest is most important. Computer and electronics field require highly analytical brain, where as mechanical requires innovative brain.\n                           Although in terms of opportunity and growth I'll rank different stream as:\n1. Computer Science\n2.Electrical and Electronics\n3.Mechanical(including production, industrial, aerospace etc)\n4.Chemical\n5.Civil