Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for computer assistants in the United States
Computer assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected computer assistant job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 83,100 new jobs for computer assistants are projected over the next decade.
Computer assistant salaries have increased 9% for computer assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 84,558 computer assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 33,400 active computer assistant job openings in the US.
The average computer assistant salary is $47,077.
Are computer assistant jobs in demand?
Computer assistant job and salary trends over time
Computer assistant jobs over time
Computer assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84,558 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 149,088 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 110,945 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 54,416 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 52,862 | 0.02% |
Average computer assistant salary over time
Computer assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,077 | $22.63 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $45,526 | $21.89 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $44,495 | $21.39 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $43,823 | $21.07 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $43,107 | $20.72 | +1.6% |
Computer assistant jobs by state
Most common states for computer assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 386 | 56% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 125 | 20% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 147 | 19% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 139 | 19% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 108 | 19% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,009 | 17% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 526 | 17% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 228 | 17% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 183 | 17% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 178 | 17% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,397 | 16% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 130 | 15% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 986 | 14% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 139 | 14% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 726 | 13% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 252 | 13% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 215 | 13% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 691 | 12% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 505 | 12% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 248 | 12% |
Most common cities for computer assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joplin | 1 | 2% | $46,127 |
| 2 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $45,762 |
| 3 | Decatur | 1 | 1% | $47,737 |
| 4 | Lowell | 1 | 1% | $44,392 |
| 5 | Overland Park | 1 | 1% | $45,854 |
| 6 | San Ramon | 1 | 1% | $53,972 |
| 7 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $46,335 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $48,010 |
| 9 | Lincoln | 1 | 0% | $39,961 |
| 10 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $54,083 |
| 11 | Omaha | 1 | 0% | $39,956 |
| 12 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $60,948 |
Computer Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of computer assistant experts
Hampton University
Texas A&M University San Antonio
Arizona State University
American University
SUNY Oswego
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Grand Valley State University
Tiffin University
Grantham University
Utah Valley University
Governors State University
New York Institute of Technology
Carleton College
Tufts University
University of North Texas
Slippery Rock University
Stetson University
Saint Peter's University
American University
What general advice would you give to a Computer Assistant?
Dr. Yohannes Bekele: By entering the computer engineering profession now, individuals can take advantage of the high skilled-power demand in the field, diverse career paths broadly classified under hardware and software sub-areas, lucrative salaries as compared to other fields, continuous learning opportunities, and the potential for entrepreneurship in changing ideas into startup businesses easily. It is a field that offers long-term growth prospects and the chance to contribute to the development of cutting-edge technologies.
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Information SystemsTexas A&M University San Antonio
Computer Information Systems Department
What soft skills should all Computer Assistants possess?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: -Ability to work as part of a team.
-Attention to detail.
-Problem-solving and analytical skills.
Robert Rucker
LecturerArizona State University
School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
What soft skills should all Computer Assistants possess?
Robert Rucker: Being able to learn a new technology very quickly is critical since that is what my students encounter.
What skills stand out on Computer Assistant resumes?
Robert Rucker: Being articulate/communicative is a real positive - being able to write up a coherent report is a big plus.
Anthony Baron
Teaching Assistant, Associate Software EngineerAmerican University
What soft skills should all Computer Assistants possess?
Anthony Baron: The main soft skills I would say are needed for Computer Science software engineering are patience, perseverance, creativity, respect, teamwork, and openness to learning and teaching. Programming involves a lot of trial and error, researching, and learning better techniques for solving a problem. Due to this, patience and perseverance to reach the final goal in mind are crucial. When it comes to the learning aspect, there are many languages, frameworks, and libraries, and working with them involves a steeper learning curve than others. On top of this, there are often more elegant ways to program a solution, and many new frameworks and libraries are released throughout the industry. This is where patience and perseverance is also a virtue. Lastly, programming and creating a product are often done in teams, where working together and learning from each other is important.
What general advice would you give to a Computer Assistant?
Mario Bkassiny Ph.D.: Young graduates should continuously seek every learning opportunity to enhance their professional skills. With the fast growth of engineering technology, it is important for engineers to remain up to date with the most recent innovations in their fields. The learning process does not stop at graduation, but instead, it extends beyond college to the workplace where engineers can gain expert knowledge in their fields.
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Community Engagement & Internationalization Officer, Professor of Information Systems & Quantitative Analysis, Director, Executive Master’s of Science in Information Technology (EMIT) Program, Executive Director, Center for Management of IT (CMIT), Fulbright Grantee (Specialist 2014; Core 2020-21)University of Nebraska at Omaha
College of Information Science & Technology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.: Employment in the computer and information technology field were expected to grow by 11 percent between 2019 and 2029, according to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). I do not think this will be lower post-Covid; in fact the demand for talented IT workers will substantively higher.
High tech entry level jobs will continue to be in areas such as software development (Java, Javascript, Python, etc.); Agile Methodology; Automation Engineers; AI/ML Developers/Analysts; Cybersecurity; Data Analysts/Data Engineers; Natural Language Processing; DevOPS; Project Management; Cloud Technologists; Parallel Computing; Quantum Computing; Digitalization or Supply Chain and Business Process Automation; Medical/Bio/Health Informaticians with a computing focused understanding of life and medical sciences. The ones in bold are what I would consider hot skills for the future and these will absolutely grow.
I also think general understanding of these important emerging areas will become important for non-IT employees as well. I would argue that all jobs will be "tech" jobs to some extent as automation and industry 4.0/5.0 takes hold across sectors; all college graduates will need to have exposure, if not competence, in aspects of technology that affect all business functions.
What's a good job out of college for Computer Assistants?
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.: I think the "best" and "interesting" jobs in my view will be those that leverage emerging technical skills such as AI/ML, data analytics, cybersecurity and medical informatics, with the nontechnical capabilities mentioned above.
What technical skills for a Computer Assistant stand out to employers?
Chirag Parikh Ph.D.: If you ask me, I consider valuable experience over good paycheck. Once you have gained that experience the paycheck will follow. As soon as you are out of college, the knowledge gained is very fresh and raring to go. If put into the right place can enhance your technical skills and you can do wonders.
As a Computer Engineering professor, I would say the job opportunities are tremendous for students out of college as they can venture into hardware field (technical support, hardware engineer, test engineer and much more) as well as software field (software engineer, software developer, software tester and much more). The possibilities are endless.
With COVID and employees working remotely there is still ample opportunity to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills as I believe remote working might stay for a while till things get back to normal.
What type of skills will young Computer Assistants need?
George Miller: Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. The organization wants to mold the graduate to their company environment with how they do things related to the field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams. These skills have been a staple for graduates since I can remember. This is why a college graduate takes many general education courses related to these skills and many of their major courses emphasize these skills.
Going back to the previous answer I believe graduates in all fields of study will need a better knowledge of technology and easier adaptability to changing technology. Again, an IS degree is already preparing students for this.
What experience really stands out on Computer Assistant resumes?
Lisa Sietstra: The job seeker's experiences will stand out when they've described previous accomplishments and shown a potential employer the value they have added in the past. Students/recent graduates (or really any job seeker at all) need to include quantifiable data in their statements; clearly painting a picture of achieved results. Connect the dots for the recruiter or hiring manager and really show that you have the potential to join the team and immediately contribute in positive ways.
Add details about academic projects if you do not yet have work experience in your field. Include a section of highlights from your coursework that applies to what the company is asking for in the job description.
Curtis Welborn
ProfessorUtah Valley University
Computer Science Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Assistants?
Curtis Welborn: Not that I can see. The high tech sector and jobs for CS students remains very strong, and as the economy recovers, these areas will continue to grow as they have over the past 40 years.
What type of skills will young Computer Assistants need?
Curtis Welborn: First, they need a strong fundamental understanding of Computer Science. People think they have to learn language X or environment Y or this thing or that thing because it is hot. Well, the thing to know about Computer Science jobs is there is always some new thing, always some new language better than the last, always something that is hot. Learning the hottest new thing might get you a job today, but it will not keep you a job tomorrow.
Having strong fundamental skills in Computer Science will equip you to learn ANY new thing. A good fundamental education in CS includes knowledge of programming languages, data structures, database, computer architecture, internet programming and networking, incremental design and development, and some advanced topic, which can vary based on a person's interest. Beyond this, everyone should have a basic understanding of math and the ability to write clearly because you always have to write something.
What experience really stands out on Computer Assistant resumes?
Curtis Welborn: That can really depend upon the company. Some companies want people with a strong background in machine learning right now. But I've met people who shy away from hiring people with too much machine learning on their resume even when the company wants someone to do machine learning because too many of these people only want to, or only can, do machine learning. They don't have a strong fundamental understanding of Computer Science (see No. 2). Our students who complete the Compiler course get jobs, not because companies are building a compiler but because companies know that someone who can build a compiler can most likely do anything they would want done. So people should not focus on finding that thing that makes their resume look good today. Just be great at everything you do. Take hard classes, and excel at them. Learn EVERYTHING you can, and companies will want you.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Stephen Hyzny: Security, as more people need online services, the protection behind that technology will be needed.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Computer Assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: IoT having small devices connected to networks that control everything in our lives will become more integrated into our lives.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: As everything involves technology, more educated people will need it in the future. As our cars, houses, and lives connect, people will be required to make it all work.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Computer Assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.: -The enormous growth of IoT and wearables. The number of connected devices is expected to be more than 26 billion in 2020. That includes things like household appliances, controllable lighting, and much more. This trend is likely to continue as it is expected to see the industry grow to 661 billion dollars by 2021.
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
What type of skills will young Computer Assistants need?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Studying mathematics is good practice for rigorous thinking and problem solving, which are valued across the workforce. For science and engineering applications, it is often also helpful to have R, Python, Matlab, or another popular programming language. But technical abilities get the graduate-only so far. They need interpersonal communication skills so that they can understand the needs of stakeholders and cooperate with colleagues. For this reason, many faculty at my school emphasize writing, speaking, listening, and teamwork skills.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Electronic communication has enabled new collaborative projects in academic math, sometimes involving tens of mathematicians, spontaneously organizing around new problems. In industrial math, computers' ever-increasing power is getting more and more math turned into practical technology. Many of today's biggest buzzwords --- machine learning, self-driving cars, etc. --- are based on sophisticated math and statistics. I expect that math will only grow in importance as these technologies become more prevalent in society.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Assistants to find work opportunities?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Math is arguably the highest of high-tech, in the sense that it leads to other high-tech fields. For example, differential geometry and complex analysis were developed in the early 1800s; they became central to the language of physics in the early 1900s; those physics led to consumer products such as GPS and electronics in the present day. So it's unsurprising that companies in technology centers with research and development divisions often employ mathematicians. But I also have friends in the financial industry, the video game industry, the federal government, etc.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Ming Chow: -Need to hit the ground running as many employees and companies don't have the time, energy, and training infrastructure.
-The soft skills, including communications, how to deal with change and the basics are becoming more critical-things like using a calendar, following-up, etc.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Computer Assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Ming Chow: Infrastructure, including cloud and networking, Security, Machine Learning, and Data Science.
References:
1. cybersecurity
2. cybersecurity
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Ming Chow: On the one hand, there are many opportunities in tech currently. On the other hand, new college hires will be competing with crowds of people with real experience who were laid off during COVID. Five years is too far ahead to predict.
What experience really stands out on Computer Assistant resumes?
Mark Albert Ph.D.: Projects. For resumes, it needs to be beyond a standard course final project. This can include a capstone team effort, a consistent theme among course projects, or engaging with faculty as a part of multi-year research pursuits. Also, we encourage our students to engage in the local community and seek internships to validate further their ability to work as part of a team.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Mark Albert Ph.D.: AI is impacting everything we do, and the Biomedical Engineering program is integrating both human-based decision making and moral, well-validated, artificial intelligence into research and development. We also engage students in the MS in AI program and Data Engineering, both of which have Biomedical Engineering concentrations as part of the course sequence.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Assistants?
Mark Albert Ph.D.: They are now better at working remotely than ever before! It sure did accelerate the transition. Interestingly, our students are now more engaged beyond our academic borders than before, given remote collaboration capabilities.
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSlippery Rock University
Department of Information Systems
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Assistants?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: It is obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and transformed the lives of many people, including students all over the world. A major effect is requiring students to stay and learn from home because of the closure of educational institutions as a precautionary measure. Missing saying the traditional goodbye to friends, fraternities, and sororities, and having to watch commencement ceremonies in bedrooms online will leave an indelible mark in graduates.
This means a great U-shift in memories of college life, including physical interaction and learning environment, and systems adopting a new way of doing things. Graduates will enter the job market with uncertainties of availability of traditional jobs and how to work in a new normal. Many graduates will find themselves having to search for jobs virtually and having to start working remotely from the beginning in most cases and in most industries. What would have been a new beginning, along with the excitement of stepping through the doors of the new office and career, will not be there physically. This will have an impact on these graduates because of the transformation of society as a result of the pandemic.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: The trend we have witnessed in the past two decades in terms of development in technology is unprecedented. This has a ripple effect on the field of information sciences and systems. Most traditional jobs have changed or rebranded. For example, consider how information and data processing and management (IDPM) has revolutionized into what is today information management or management information systems; business intelligence is almost transformed into business analytics, data science; high-performance computing, and grid computing is today predominantly engulfed by cloud computing services.
These are changing how data and information are managed. The decision-making process is changing in various information and knowledge-intensive and process-oriented industries such as healthcare, banking, transportation, engineering, education, security, just to name a few, despite the fact that roles and services still remain. New and emerging disciplines and services are added, driven by the advancement and greater capabilities of technology. Without a doubt, in the next few years, data and information services will be revolutionized by technology hugely. Consider the development in artificial intelligence, data science, blockchain, 5G, and broadband networks, all of which have huge potential to impact the discipline. This means that information sciences and information systems courses must adapt to take into consideration the emerging skills required by the professionals and businesses of the future. The education and training of professionals in this domain have to be continuously changing to prepare graduates adequately.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Assistants to find work opportunities?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: Sometimes new graduates from college can find it hard to get the perfect or preferred job location. This may be different for those with information sciences or information systems and related degrees. Luckily there are big companies, multinational companies as well as some-sized enterprises who need skills in that discipline. Most of these can be found in some of the big cities beyond Silicon Valley such as NY, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Denver, Colorado, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, Charlotte, Houston, Boston, Dallas, and Minneapolis, just to name a few.
Some of these locations are where some of the big tech companies reside, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, IBM, HP, SAP, etc. The advantage of this degree is that graduates not only can work for tech companies but any company because of the need to manage data, information, process, and technology. Companies all over have or are putting together strategies to harness the potential of big data, and graduates with information sciences, information systems, and related degrees are sought after continuously.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Assistants?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: I didn't see any negative impact of coronavirus on our graduates. Our graduates did not have any problem finding internships and jobs during the pandemic. After the pandemic, there will be even more demand and opportunities for our graduates.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: Not really. With the increasing shift of working remotely, the jobs now are not tied to a specific location in the US or anywhere in the world.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: In our field, it might be more appropriate the other way around. I would like to rephrase the question as to how does the computer science field impact technology in the next five years? The answer is tremendous. With fields like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, visual, and augmented reality making great strides, there is no doubt that we will witness a revolution in technology in the next five years.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Assistants?
Edward Moskal: While it's unclear how the pandemic will play-out, it will, without a doubt, change the landscape on how companies conduct business and the type of college graduates they will be looking to hire. Graduating into a bad economy can affect everything from obtaining that first full-time position to short- and long-term earnings. Recent college graduates and entry-level workers are being hit especially hard, as I see companies rescinding offers for jobs and internships as they navigate their recovery during the recession. As companies have shifted to remote work and phased returns, with furloughs and job eliminations, look for those graduates that can differentiate themselves from others to make the cut.
So internships, apprenticeships, certifications from professional organizations, acquiring skills, and on-the-job-training (above and beyond the related technical instruction acquired while in college), will be of paramount importance to have in your portfolio. However, it's not all doom and gloom for graduates who are having some challenges landing that first job. Graduate schools could be a prime pivot. While graduate school could result in additional student loans, it could also provide a career pathway by acquiring additional skills and a lever to start building a network of professionals that could provide the conduit to the job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Assistants to find work opportunities?
Edward Moskal: Top places for graduates to find work opportunities would be in areas surrounding these cities: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, and Boston. So look at a 50-mile radius surrounding these cities, and those areas would be prime. These cities and their surrounding geographic areas will provide job connections to major financial services, manufacturing, tech, and logistics companies. According to cyberseek.org, just for cybersecurity job openings, New York has 15,000 openings, California has 68,000, Illinois has 18,000, Washington has 10,000, Texas has 47,000, and Massachusetts has 15,000.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Edward Moskal: Technology will have a significant impact over the next five years. While technology associated with the software, databases, blockchain, cloud computing, and cybersecurity will still have an impact, we are likely to see significant changes and advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence, combinations of augmented and mixed reality, and quantum computing. Industry and business will be driving these advancements, in particular, the healthcare industry and large tech companies like Google and Facebook that have already started establishing a strong presence in these fields.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Assistants to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley: My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Assistants in the next 5 years?
Kathleen Riley: I expect some of the changes we've seen in the work world as a result of the pandemic to remain part of our lives long after the virus is no longer a threat. In particular, the pandemic has caused a lot of people to think more favorably about remote work, online meetings and conferences, and other video interactions. Not only do I expect to see increased availability of jobs supporting such technology, but I also anticipate that there will be more opportunities for computer scientists to join companies in other parts of the country without having to move to high cost-of-living areas like the Silicon Valley.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Assistants?
Kathleen Riley: The job market has been good for Computer Science graduates in the last several years, and I expect it to stay good, despite the pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic is changing the job market overall, with some industries cutting back and others increasing hiring, so there has been some redistribution of job opportunities as a result, but I fully expect the demand for our graduates to stay high. One of the changes we see in the industry right now is a growing demand for technology that enables and facilitates remote and touchless interactions; there will be significant demand for people with computer science skills to make that technology successful.