Are Computer Science Related Jobs “Cooked”?

While the short-term market feels far tighter than the 2020—2021 boom—when remote work was abundant and junior requisitions plentiful—entry-level computer science roles are not disappearing so much as recalibrating. Recent data from Indeed and LinkedIn confirm that employers now advertise fewer true “junior” postings, often inflating requirements to 3—5 years’ experience, and remote-first opportunities have retreated as companies pull back on fully distributed teams. Yet the fundamentals remain strong: the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 17% expansion in software employment through 2033, far outpacing most occupations, and CompTIA data show tech-sector unemployment dipping below 3%.

Pay has also normalized rather than collapsed—median entry-level salaries range from roughly $75k—$110k across many metros, with compensation skewed higher at top firms where Levels.fyi pegs total packages closer to $133k, compared to NACE’s $85k average base offer for CS grads. The implication is clear: success now depends less on a degree alone and more on demonstrated, market-ready experience—internships, shipped projects with real users, and the kind of networking that extends beyond Big Tech pipelines.

Computer Science Degree Job Opportunities

• The entry-level market is much tougher than 2020—2021: fewer junior postings, slower callbacks, more “3—5 years” reqs, and less fully-remote. (Indeed Hiring Lab, LinkedIn Economic Graph, WFH Research)
• But long-run demand is still strong: BLS projects +17% growth for software roles (2023—2033), far above average; tech-occupation unemployment recently dipped below 3%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, CompTIA)
• Expect wider variance: top pay persists at a a few firms/metros, while many roles pay ~$75—$110k to start. Median US entry-level SE total comp ≈ $133k (skewed by top firms); NACE’s projected average for CS grads is ~$85k base. (Levels.fyi, Default)
• Conclusion: Not cooked. Normalized. You now need internships, projects with real users, and targeted networking—especially outside Big Tech. (Handshake)

What Changed Since 2020

• Over-hiring unwind + AI efficiency push: 2022—2025 layoffs plus slower replacement hiring shrank many junior funnels. (Layoffs.fyi, TechCrunch)
• Postings cooled: As of mid-2025, only ~19% of major tech titles are above pre-pandemic posting levels. (Indeed Hiring Lab)
• Remote shrank: New US postings listed as remote fell to roughly ~9% by late 2024; workforce settled around 13% fully remote / 26% hybrid by early 2025. Translation: more on-site/hybrid requirements for juniors. (LinkedIn Economic Graph, WFH Research)

What the Hard Numbers Say

• Growth outlook: Software developers/QA/testers projected +17% (2023—2033), ~140k openings/year including replacements. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• Unemployment: Tech-occupation unemployment dipped <3% in June 2025 (tight compared to overall labor market). (CompTIA)

• Starting pay:

  • CS majors (Class of ‘25): projected average base $84,960 (flat YoY). (Default)
  • Entry-level SWE (US, all firms): median total comp ≈ $133k (mix of base/bonus/equity; distribution is very skewed). (Levels.fyi)

• Campus hiring sentiment: Fall ‘24: +7.3% expected hiring for Class of ‘25 → Spring ‘25 update: ~flat (+0.6%). Translation: optimism cooled into 2025. (Default, Default)

Why Do So Many on Reddit Say the Job Market is “Cooked”?

In a recent Reddit thread some say “it’s fine if you’re the best,” others say “big companies expect the cheapest labor,” others note six-figure jobs aren’t automatic anymore. That mix is exactly what the data shows: fewer easy wins, more bifurcation—elite seats still exist, but broad junior hiring pipelines are thinner and more selective. (Reddit)

Where the Opportunities Actually Are

• Non-tech companies hiring tech: Finance, healthcare, industrials, and government contractors keep absorbing CS talent (steady budgets, fewer hype cycles). Early-career demand shifted away from internet/software firms. (Handshake)
• Enterprise stacks & infra: SAP/ERP, data platforms, and cloud/DevOps roles are stable and less faddish than consumer app work. (Business Insider)
• AI + ML (selectively): Hiring is real but skills-biased—Python + data + infra + model integration beats “prompting.” (Indeed Hiring Lab)
• Security & embedded: Persistent demand across sectors; fewer junior seats but durable trajectories. (Triangulated from employer surveys and steady spend patterns.) (CompTIA)

Incoming Freshman Choosing CS vs ME

• Pick the work you’ll tolerate at 2 a.m. Both are rigorous. Market cycles will turn at least twice before you graduate.
• CS is broader, with more self-service pathways (internships, OSS, hackathons, freelancing). ME internships skew more local/industrial and may be capacity-constrained, but outcomes are stable.
• Risk management: if you choose CS, avoid being “just web dev.” Layer in systems, data, networks, or embedded so you can credibly pivot to non-tech employers. (That’s where the consistent demand is.) (Handshake)

Addressing Counterpoints Found in Reddit

• “People with good resumes are still struggling.” True—and competition is denser for fewer junior seats. That doesn’t negate the long-run outlook. (Reddit, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• “Big Tech pays the most but wants ‘superstars’.” Also true—and they reduced entry-level funnels. Cast a wider net (enterprises, mid-market, gov contractors). (Indeed Hiring Lab)
• “Pay is trending down.” Sign-on/equity at a subset of firms cooled post-2021, but median entry-level TC remains high by cross-major standards. (Levels.fyi)

What it Takes for a CS Major to Get Hired

• Internships early and often: Aim for 2+ by graduation; prefer ones with production exposure over brand names. (Handshake)

• Projects with users: Ship things people actually use (not to-do apps). Log usage, performance, and ROI in your readme.

• Targeted networking: Warm referrals > mass-apply. Ten bespoke applications beat 200 shotgun resumes. (Yes, this matches early-career platform data and employer commentary.) (Handshake)

• Geography flexibility: Willingness to be on-site expands options; fully-remote junior roles are scarce. (LinkedIn Economic Graph, WFH Research)

• Interview readiness: Systems + data structures + a domain (cloud, data, embedded, security).

• Skill signals that travel:

  • Cloud (AWS/GCP/Azure) + IaC (Terraform)
  • SQL + Python data stack; basic analytics/ETL
  • Linux networking, containers, CI/CD
  • For embedded: C/C++ toolchains, RTOS, UART/I2C/SPI
  • For security: threat modeling, basic IR, least privilege, KMS

• Reality check on comp: A few offers will be $150k+ TC; many solid entry roles will be $75—$110k base with decent growth. Use the big numbers as outliers, not baselines. (Levels.fyi, Default)

Computer Science—Related Jobs (2025 Landscape)

Inspired by broad roundups like Indeed’s, but focused on what you actually do and how to signal you’re ready.

AI exposure = how likely core tasks are to be automated vs. augmented. Knowledge-work roles that are heavy on text/analysis see more disruption than hands-on systems, security, or hardware-adjacent roles.

Recent Microsoft-linked analyses flag interpreters/writers/some web roles as higher risk; hands-on or physical-world roles are less exposed. (IT Pro, Investopedia, Fortune)

Entry Level Computer Science Jobs

Here are some roles with realistic entry-level work, for CS grads, with clear qualification signals:

Where to actually find entry-level CS jobs

• University programs, internships converting to full-time, and non-tech employers (healthcare, finance, industrials, government contractors).
• MSPs (Managed Service Providers) and mid-market firms with smaller, but steady, pipelines.
• Local meetups and OSS communities (warm referrals beat mass-apply).

How to qualify faster

• Ship one production-grade project per target role (with users, metrics, tests, CI).
• Write a 1-page resume; lead with impact and numbers; link to code and running demos.
• Be flexible on on-site/hybrid for the first role; it materially widens options.
• Prep the “core four”: DSA basics, SQL (joins + windows), HTTP/Linux, Git/CI.

Red flags to avoid 🚩

• Only tutorialware/to-do apps; no tests; no users.
• Vague bullet points (“worked on microservices”) with zero metrics.
• Applying to 200 postings with the same resume; no role-specific evidence.

AI and Blue-Collar Resilience

Here are some hard facts about what it means for CS grads, and if blue collars are truly a “safe haven” in these turbulent times:

• A recent NBC piece sums up the split: hard evidence of AI-driven job losses is still scarce, and roles involving manual labor/expertise look less vulnerable for now. Hinton’s advice: “Train to be a plumber.” Microsoft’s research lists knowledge-heavy roles (e.g., interpreters, writers, some customer service/sales) as most exposed. (NBC 6 South Florida)
• Other coverage echoes this: blue-collar/trade work is less automatable in the near term; white-collar postings have cooled more than trade roles in several datasets. (Axios, Business Insider)
• For CS pathways, that doesn’t mean “abandon code.” It means opt into complementarity: pick domains where software meets the physical world or regulated/mission-critical systems (infra, security, embedded, robotics, healthcare/industrial data). Those remain durable and value-dense. Empirical work on job ads shows AI often complements human skills more than it substitutes, increasing demand for AI-complementary skills (teamwork, resilience, digital literacy) even outside “AI jobs.” (arXiv)
• Long-run tech employment still looks strong: BLS projects much-faster-than-average growth for software and IT through 2033—even as entry-level funnels have normalized from 2020 highs. So optimize role selection and signaling, not just raw coding hours. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Blue Collar Jobs and AI: Bottom line

Don’t major-switch out of fear. Switch only if you’d rather be an engineer of physical systems than computational ones. If you like computing, the expected value over a 30-year career is still excellent—but the path now requires earlier internships, sharper signaling, and openness to non-Big-Tech employers. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Handshake)

• NBC Miami (NBC News syndication): “AI is coming for jobs — just not blue collar ones, yet.” Aug 16, 2025. (NBC 6 South Florida)
• Microsoft-linked reporting on roles most exposed to AI: ITPro; Forbes; Investopedia; Fortune (July—Aug 2025). (IT Pro, Forbes, Investopedia, Fortune)
• BLS Occupational Outlook: Software and broader Computer/IT job outlook (2023—2033). (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Additional context on blue-collar resilience: Axios; Business Insider (CEO commentary). (Axios, Business Insider)
• On AI complementing skills in job ads (2018—2023, US/UK/AU): arXiv working paper. (arXiv)

Conclusion

Junior candidates should gear themselves toward, and prepare for, low-exposure, high-leverage CS roles (security, infra, embedded, data platforms, robotics) or AI-complementary roles (ML/LLM with solid evaluation and integration).

They should build “evidence” that travels across employers:

• Production-grade projects
• Keep clear metrics on their progress
• Maintain reliability
• Have a working knowledge of good security practices
• Demonstrate domain literacy (cloud/networking/data).

Stay flexible on on-site/hybrid early in your career; many resilient teams (infra, hardware, ops) aren’t fully remote.

Key Takeaway

• The CS market isn’t “cooked”—it’s normalized from 2020 highs. Junior pipelines are smaller and more selective, but long-run demand remains strong.
• Winning strategies now: 2+ internships, projects with real users + metrics, targeted warm referrals, and flexibility on on-site/hybrid.
• Aim beyond generic web dev: prioritize infrastructure, data platforms, security, embedded/robotics, or AI integration with rigorous evals—domains where software touches the real world and budgets persist.
• Calibrate comp expectations: top firms still pay top quartile, but many solid entry roles start around $75—$110k base with growth upside.
• Use the table above to map roles to day-one tasks and portfolio signals; then add the H3 section on “entry level computer science jobs” to capture long-tail search while giving readers concrete next steps.
• Bottom line: don’t pivot majors out of fear. If you like computing, the expected value over a career is still excellent—just play the evidence game (ship, measure, iterate) instead of the spray-and-pray application game.

Sources

• ‘Can we be real here?’ Reddit thread in r/csMajors. (Reddit)
• BLS Occupational Outlook—Software Developers (2023—2033): growth +17%, ~140k openings/yr. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• CompTIA Tech Jobs Report (June—July 2025): tech-occupation unemployment <3%. (CompTIA)
• Indeed Hiring Lab (Jul 30, 2025): most tech titles below pre-pandemic postings; hiring remains cool. (Indeed Hiring Lab)
• LinkedIn Economic Graph (Mar 2025 PDF): US new remote postings ~9% in late 2024; higher among “still-active” postings. (LinkedIn Economic Graph)
• WFH Research (Mar 2025): 13% fully remote / 26% hybrid. (WFH Research)
• NACE (Mar 6, 2025): projected CS starting salary ≈ $84,960. (Default)
• Levels.fyi (accessed Aug 18, 2025): US entry-level SWE median TC ≈ $133k. (Levels.fyi)
• Handshake early-talent trends: demand shifted from Big Tech to non-tech employers. (Handshake)

• Business Insider
• San Francisco Chronicle
• The Times of India
• Business Insider
• Business Insider