Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
The Ranger
New member
What do you think is the best job, training, or field in the computer industry to earn alot of money??? Curious...
Ranger
Ranger
Computer Guru's....
- Thread starter The Ranger
- Start date
S
Slice of Peach2
Guest
Easy. Web Design. 
The best paying working job in the computer industry is a Computer engineer, or programmer. If you know c++, Java you are all set. Experience is key the industry.
If you can learn .Net programming and c# then you are all set for the future of the industry.
Web design ( I am sorry to say ) . Is the worst paying job in the industry next to being the "guy who fixes computers". Web design use to be good, but you have so many 13 year old kids that will do the work for free... the industry is all messed up now. BUT if you are a web developer... that is good money. Doing the back end stuff... ASP, JSP, perl, cgi etc…
So i guess as far as web design goes... it would depend on what level of it you are doing.
It’s best to learn as much as you can. I do programming c++, java, web design including ASP, traditional Graphic design, and 3D for entertainment and Architectural visualization
I move around in the industry
If you can learn .Net programming and c# then you are all set for the future of the industry.
Web design ( I am sorry to say ) . Is the worst paying job in the industry next to being the "guy who fixes computers". Web design use to be good, but you have so many 13 year old kids that will do the work for free... the industry is all messed up now. BUT if you are a web developer... that is good money. Doing the back end stuff... ASP, JSP, perl, cgi etc…
So i guess as far as web design goes... it would depend on what level of it you are doing.
It’s best to learn as much as you can. I do programming c++, java, web design including ASP, traditional Graphic design, and 3D for entertainment and Architectural visualization
I move around in the industry
F
Frackal
Guest
Slice of Peach2 said:Easy. Web Design.
Peaches, that's my area as well...email me please... [email protected]
Peach/Frack,
Web design?
No way/no how/no fuckin way whatsoever.
The web has been an abysmal failure given the capability of the Internet itself. It's a bunch of pictures...oh hell yeah that's exciting.
Ranger,
Software development - that's a really good one, but it can be tough if you aren;t somewhat technical. Learn about fiber optic cabling - another good one. the Internet is the ultimate vehicle for data transfer, like any network. Align yourself that way - understand what is necessary to transfer data, and you can go many directions.
I got your PM. I'll get back to you when I have a second.
Web design?
No way/no how/no fuckin way whatsoever.
The web has been an abysmal failure given the capability of the Internet itself. It's a bunch of pictures...oh hell yeah that's exciting.
Ranger,
Software development - that's a really good one, but it can be tough if you aren;t somewhat technical. Learn about fiber optic cabling - another good one. the Internet is the ultimate vehicle for data transfer, like any network. Align yourself that way - understand what is necessary to transfer data, and you can go many directions.
I got your PM. I'll get back to you when I have a second.
Pete and matt hit it on the head bro. Really big money is in being able to do development. 
I write in C++, Java and V B. I'm a DB systems manager. You should know two languages minimum. I also do SQL, but I've never really considered that a true comp. language.
I write in C++, Java and V B. I'm a DB systems manager. You should know two languages minimum. I also do SQL, but I've never really considered that a true comp. language.
I get paid pretty well though at my company, more than most 21yr olds I know.
J
john937
Guest
Nearly all roads thru the tech world pay relatively the same at the bottom.
Entry level jobs don't pay, but you learn a lot and get credentials.
Then the mid to senior level jobs pay from 40K - 60K, and maybe into the 70's if your special.
But then you hit a ceiling.
The only way to get past the ceiling is to either go into management or become a contractor.
White men find it particularly hard to go into management because so many tech companies
use women in management to balance their OEO quotas/ratios.
I can't count how many situations I know where there's a white woman in management and everybody reporting to her is either a white male or ethinic female.
I'm not debating whether that's right or wrong, that's just what I see every day.
So as a white male you're best bet for getting into higher level pay is to become a consultant/contractor and be really good at something and have great references and do a lot of networking so people in you're area recognize you as being a hot item.
The trick to being a hot consultant is to be knowledgable in a hot area before everybody and his dog learns it.
So to stay hot as a consultant you have to keep learning the leading edge technologies.
Right now I'd say that's java development, with a side order of database and network/telecommunications.
Personally I didn't like programming, so I'm in database administration and system administration, which don't lend themselves to being a contractor.
Managers are very leary of hiring a contractor to be their system "root" admin because they want to know you're going to stick around for years.
Entry level jobs don't pay, but you learn a lot and get credentials.
Then the mid to senior level jobs pay from 40K - 60K, and maybe into the 70's if your special.
But then you hit a ceiling.
The only way to get past the ceiling is to either go into management or become a contractor.
White men find it particularly hard to go into management because so many tech companies
use women in management to balance their OEO quotas/ratios.
I can't count how many situations I know where there's a white woman in management and everybody reporting to her is either a white male or ethinic female.
I'm not debating whether that's right or wrong, that's just what I see every day.
So as a white male you're best bet for getting into higher level pay is to become a consultant/contractor and be really good at something and have great references and do a lot of networking so people in you're area recognize you as being a hot item.
The trick to being a hot consultant is to be knowledgable in a hot area before everybody and his dog learns it.
So to stay hot as a consultant you have to keep learning the leading edge technologies.
Right now I'd say that's java development, with a side order of database and network/telecommunications.
Personally I didn't like programming, so I'm in database administration and system administration, which don't lend themselves to being a contractor.
Managers are very leary of hiring a contractor to be their system "root" admin because they want to know you're going to stick around for years.
J
john937
Guest
Sure there's exceptions and you have to adjust for regional pay differences.
I doubt anyone is getting 85K to start anything in the south.
When I moved from New York to Texas I took about a 50% pay cut, but at the time it was worth it to get out of NYC.
That brings up another topic: to be a high paid contractor you have to either be willing to travel to the high paying contracts or live in one of the biggest cities that is used to doing buisness with contractors.
That means NY, LA, SF, etc. You're not going to get high paying contracts in Bucksnort Utah.
I doubt anyone is getting 85K to start anything in the south.
When I moved from New York to Texas I took about a 50% pay cut, but at the time it was worth it to get out of NYC.
That brings up another topic: to be a high paid contractor you have to either be willing to travel to the high paying contracts or live in one of the biggest cities that is used to doing buisness with contractors.
That means NY, LA, SF, etc. You're not going to get high paying contracts in Bucksnort Utah.
H
HappyScrappy
Guest
yeah, like I'll be at at least 80K in a few days once my review goes through - but that is b/c the cost of living here is high.
makes me feel like maybe I shoudl try to get some work done.
makes me feel like maybe I shoudl try to get some work done.
JUSTINCREDBOL
New member
big easy said it best.
Web Design sucks and pays peanuts.
Oracle is the highest paying job out there. CISCO would be next. And all entry level jobs do NOT start out the same. My entry level as a Junior DBA was at $47 per hour. It has only gone up since. I have been offered permanent jobs that pay over 100K, but I enjoy doing contract work as it allows me to grab various stock cheaply (or free) while still making more money. I also I get time off whenever I want it and not have to stick with the 2 weeks standard vacation time most companies have.
Oracle is the highest paying job out there. CISCO would be next. And all entry level jobs do NOT start out the same. My entry level as a Junior DBA was at $47 per hour. It has only gone up since. I have been offered permanent jobs that pay over 100K, but I enjoy doing contract work as it allows me to grab various stock cheaply (or free) while still making more money. I also I get time off whenever I want it and not have to stick with the 2 weeks standard vacation time most companies have.
john937 said:
I'm glad you mentioned that because those rules of pay scale don't apply in NYC. Just reiterating.
I am a computer engineer so I can speak from experience that being a software engineer is the easiest way to make a load of cash.
It takes longer for hardware engineers to reach the same pay scale as their software counterparts, and generally the education is more demanding.
Most of my work right now is done in c++ and Java on wireless platforms. If you can get a job in the bay area, you can reel in 6 figures real quick as long as you are pretty good.
The key is to be strongly rooted in the software fundamentals and to know C++. Knowing Java is desireable, but if you know C++ then you can pick up Java very easily, but the opposite does not hold true.
The Doc
It takes longer for hardware engineers to reach the same pay scale as their software counterparts, and generally the education is more demanding.
Most of my work right now is done in c++ and Java on wireless platforms. If you can get a job in the bay area, you can reel in 6 figures real quick as long as you are pretty good.
The key is to be strongly rooted in the software fundamentals and to know C++. Knowing Java is desireable, but if you know C++ then you can pick up Java very easily, but the opposite does not hold true.
The Doc
Womb Raider
New member
Go for programming. Get your OOA/OOD down by reading tons of books and immersing yourself into as much of the newest technology as possible. Distributed- XML COM CORBA - and of course JAVA/C++ as your base OO languages. Make your way up to Senior Programmer and eventually System Architect. After that you can contract and make shittons of money. There are alot of people who know OOP but very few who can effectively design and architect a large scale project. Get to know UML.
Programming rocks. It alows for creativity and it really challenges you to come up with unique solutions. If you really know what you're doing and are using design patterns you will be able to accomplish something in 1/10 of the time as your avg programmer.
I started out doing networking but i personally find it boring. Plus everyone and their mom is going for network certs.
JR Prog 40-60k
Sr Prog 80-100k
Architect/Team Lead +100K
Wizards do flat contracts ???? alot
Programming rocks. It alows for creativity and it really challenges you to come up with unique solutions. If you really know what you're doing and are using design patterns you will be able to accomplish something in 1/10 of the time as your avg programmer.
I started out doing networking but i personally find it boring. Plus everyone and their mom is going for network certs.
JR Prog 40-60k
Sr Prog 80-100k
Architect/Team Lead +100K
Wizards do flat contracts ???? alot
J
john937
Guest
Jae, good for you, but your situation is a bit unusuall.
There are NO contract positions for Oracle DBA here except for the 3 week - 3 month short term development gigs.
So what you make in high contractor rates you then lose in beach time looking for the next gig.
And full time Oracle DBA here would pay about 60-90K tops.
There are NO contract positions for Oracle DBA here except for the 3 week - 3 month short term development gigs.
So what you make in high contractor rates you then lose in beach time looking for the next gig.
And full time Oracle DBA here would pay about 60-90K tops.
S
Slice of Peach2
Guest
Troll said:
Nah...Southwest.
I saw a job for someone who knew Director and HTML that paid 80K. I know those.
Web development is the way to go, actually. Knowing the languages is a plus. Java, Java Script, ASP, JSP, etc. I am on my way!!!!!
S
Slice of Peach2
Guest
Troll said:
McKinney is way out there!!!! You must have money!
actually, i'm living in a apartment. i graduated last May, went to work for a well know defense company up here. I hated it so I got a job in Irving. Now I'm stuck driving an hour down 121. if you have never had to experience 121, thank your god.
i'll be moving into my new home over in Little Elm at the end of July. I can't wait!
i don't have a lot of money, my wife works too. so that helps alot!
i'll be moving into my new home over in Little Elm at the end of July. I can't wait!
i don't have a lot of money, my wife works too. so that helps alot!
Workin_at_it
New member
Hey Troll, we'll be neighbors. I'm building a house in West Frisco now. Can you say Elite Pool Party (if they ever finish the damn thing.)
From experience (20 years in the computer field) best paying field is without a doubt...
Technical Sales. Hard work. But commission makes $150,00-$250,00 reasonable. Some guys pull in close to $400,000
I did defense contracting, Embedded Telecom, Web Design, System Architecture, even startup CTO.
Sales pays the best (potentially). It can also pay the worst. Hard to start in this area though.
From experience (20 years in the computer field) best paying field is without a doubt...
Technical Sales. Hard work. But commission makes $150,00-$250,00 reasonable. Some guys pull in close to $400,000
I did defense contracting, Embedded Telecom, Web Design, System Architecture, even startup CTO.
Sales pays the best (potentially). It can also pay the worst. Hard to start in this area though.
Workin_at_it
New member
The house is supposed to be ready in September, they're just starting the framing this week. I'm new to Dallas area, since December, but I'm assuming that it'll still be warm here then.
Hopefully by then I'll have lost enought lard that I can hang with the Texas crowd and not have to wear a t-shirt
Hopefully by then I'll have lost enought lard that I can hang with the Texas crowd and not have to wear a t-shirt
you assume too much. it snowed a few times this past winter, and we had some pretty hard freezes.
i've only been here since last May. It'll get like 115 degrees F this summer, so yea...the lard will come off. Unless yoiur like me and hide inside with ice-cream as your guardian
i've only been here since last May. It'll get like 115 degrees F this summer, so yea...the lard will come off. Unless yoiur like me and hide inside with ice-cream as your guardian
