Average Salary after an MS in Computer Science in the USA in 2025

An MS in Computer Science in the USA opens many career opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics suggests that the country posts over 356,700 computer science-related job openings annually.

Most of these jobs offer packages as high as INR 1.02 crores to CS graduates from top American universities. So, if you are wondering about the job scope of a master’s in computer science in the USA, you have come to the right place. Read the full blog below and learn about the top job roles and average salary after an MS in Computer Science in the USA.

Also Read: Study Abroad Guide for Indian Students

Top jobs after an MS in Computer Science in the USA

From a software engineer to a data scientist, the scope for high-paying careers is vast after completing an MS in CS in the USA. Here are some top jobs you can explore based on various parameters:

Average Salary After An MS In Computer Science In The USA Based On Universities

Your salary and career outcome can heavily depend on the university you graduated from. For instance, the median salary for the Class of 2023 at Carnegie Mellon University was INR 1.2 crores per annum. For UC Berkeley’s Class of 2023, on the other hand, the median salary was INR 1.03 crores per annum. 

So, here’s a list of top MS in Computer Science universities in the USA, along with their career outcomes:

Now, let’s learn about these top universities and their career outcomes in detail:

• Average salary after an MS in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University

Master’s students from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University have a high employment rate of 89%. The median salary for 2023 graduates was INR 1.20 crores per annum, and the class average was INR 1.24 crores per annum.

Here are the top industries and employers that hired CS graduates from the Class of 2023 at Carnegie Mellon:

• Average salary after an MS in Computer Science at UC Berkeley

The UC Berkeley School of Information teaches graduates the following skills to excel in their careers:

• Data analysis and modeling
• Product management
• User experience research
• Machine learning
• Cybersecurity
• Data visualization
• User interface design
• Business strategy
• Information organization & retrieval

The median salary for the Class of 2023 at UC Berkeley School of Information was INR 1.03 crores per annum. Graduates moved on to work in the following industries and job titles:

• Average salary after an MS in Computer Science at Harvard University

According to Payscale, the average base salary for an MIT graduate with an MS in Computer Science is INR 1.02 crores. This increases to INR 1.68 crores and higher. 

Here are some top employers with whom the 2023 graduates in Computational Science and Engineering worked:

Average Salary After an MA In Computer Science in The USA Based On Location

Here’s a list of popular employment destinations in the USA with average salaries for a software engineer:

So, you can see that with an MS in Computer Science from one of the top universities in the USA, you can secure a strong starting salary. But it’s not just the top 20 or top 50 universities; you might find a great university that isn’t in the top rankings yet offers a high return on investment (ROI) and aligns well with your career goals. This is why SelectRight (by GradRight) was built—to make university selection easier and more effective.

SelectRight is an AI-powered university search platform where you create a profile, specify your academic background, career goals, and other search preferences. It then matches your profile to universities that not only align with your career aspirations but also have high chances of admission and funding opportunities.

This tool helps you avoid the disappointment of applying to universities that may not be the best fit and ensures you apply to those that truly match your needs.

This also ensures you get admission to a high ROI university after which you can get a job in the sector you prefer. So let’s also look at the salaries for some of the top sectors. 

Average Salary After an MS In Computer Science In The USA Based On Job Sectors

Top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon suggest that tech, finance, and consulting are some of the highest-paying sectors in the USA. Most MS in CS students from these universities graduate to work in these industries and earn up to INR 1.54 crores per annum. 

Here’s a list of relevant sectors that pay handsome salaries and hire computer science graduates regularly:

Average Salary After an MS In Computer Science In The USA Based On Job Roles

According to Payscale, here’s a list of highest-paying job roles in the USA after a CS degree:

Every year, tens of thousands of Indian students pursue these high-paying jobs after completing their MS in Computer Science in the USA. You can achieve this too. One of the key steps in your study abroad journey is securing a low-interest education loan, and FundRight (by GradRight) can make this process seamless.

The main advantage FundRight offers is that you only need to create one account to access competitive loan offers from over 15 top domestic and international lenders. This approach is far better than applying individually to a few known lenders, who might not provide the best terms or the lowest interest rates.

Start your FundRight profile today and discover how much you can save on your education loan for pursuing an MS in Computer Science abroad.

Once you secure an affordable loan, you will be able to focus on your higher education and give yourself the best chance to secure a high-paying job at a top company in IT. So let’s also understand the top recruiters that hire graduates from MS in CS. 

Also Read: Best Exams to Study in USA for Indian Students (Masters & UG)

Top recruiters offering job opportunities after an MS in Computer Science in the USA

From tech giants to the Big 4s, many recruiters in the USA hire MS in Computer Science graduates. Here are some top companies that have hired 2023 graduates from high-ranking universities in the USA:  

Top Recruiters After an MS In Computer Science at Harvard University

51% of Harvard Johan A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences graduates received employment from the following tech companies:

• Apple 
• Amazon
• Facebook
• Google
• Moveworks 
• Microsoft
• Paige 
• Snowflake
• REX
• Waymo
• Twitter
• Wish

14% of the graduates received employment from the following finance companies: 

• Bank of America
• Arrowstreet Capital
• Bloomberg
• Citadel
• Capital One
• Goldman Sachs
• Macquarie Group
• JP Morgan
• Nasdaq
• Virtu Financial
• Two Sigma
• Wellington Mgmt.

The rest 13% went to pursue higher education, and 22% worked at the following companies from different industries:

• Con Edison
• Alife Health
• McKinsey Analytics
• MITRE
• Quantum Black
• REX
• Oscar Health
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Top Recruiters After an MS In Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University

Here are the top recruiters from different industries that hired Master’s students from the School of Computer Science:

153 out of 528 master’s graduates from the School of Computer Science received employment from these internet and software companies:

• Meta, Amazon
• Databricks
• Google
• Microsoft
• Tiktok
• Cisco
• Netflix
• Doordash
• Oracle
• Dimaag-AI
• LinkedIn
• Humu
• Horizon Robots
• Honeywell
• Path AI
• PlayStation
• Nuro
• Panorama Education
• Shopee
• Tokyo Research Institute

Following electronic and computer hardware companies hired 36 out of 528 graduates:

• Apple
• Bloomfield Robotics
• Qualcomm
• SNAP
• Agility Robotics
• Zoox
• NVIDIA
• IBM
• SmbaNova Systems
• ASML
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Intel Corporation
• MSA Safety

Following investment and portfolio management companies hired 21 out of 528 graduates:

• Two Sigma
• Bank of New York Mellon
• Jane Street
• DRW
• Akuna Capital
• Alumni Ventures
• Redesign Health

Following financial services companies hired 16 out of 528 graduates:

• Bloomberg
• Citadel Securities
• Hudson River Trading
• Northwestern Mutual

Following automotive companies hired 14 out of 528 graduates:

• Aurora
• Tesla
• Lucid Motors
• Cruise
• TORC Robotics

Following investment banking companies hired 12 out of 528 graduates:

• Goldman Sachs
• JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Citi
• Jump Trading
• Deutsche Bank

Top Recruiters After an MS In Computer Science at Stanford University

MS graduates (2022-23 and 2023-24) at the Management Science and Engineering Department of the university received job offers from the following companies:

Consulting:

• Bain & Company
• McKinsey and Company
• Boston Consulting Group
• Jump Associates
• Cornerstone Research

Engineering and Technology:

• Protocol labs
• 1Flow, Inc.
• Amazon Web Services
• Amazon
• CACI International, Inc.
• ByteDance US
• Google
• Meta
• Intuit
• Mobi Systems
• Microsoft
• Nexla
• NASA JPL
• Palantir Technologies
• NVIDIA
• Pandora

Energy and  Environment:

• Carbon Direct
• Ascend Analytics
• Renew Home
• Greenify

Government, Policy, and Defense:

• United States Air Force
• Singapore Government
• Enterprise Singapore
• Singapore Army
• U.S. Coast Guard

Finance:

• BlackRock
• Bank of America
• Centerview Partners
• Bloomberg LP
• D.E. Shaw Group
• Citigroup
• Coinbase
• Fidelity Investments
• Dodge & Cox
• Intact Financial Corporation
• Goldman Sachs
• Greenhill & Co.
• JP Morgan Chase
• Jefferies
• Morgan Stanley
• PayPal

Also Read: Masters in Management (MIM) in USA: Top Universities, Rankings, Fees, Eligibility & More

Factors affecting your salary after an MS in CS in the USA

Your salary after completing an MS in Computer Science in the USA depends on various factors. Here are some of them:

Job sector

If you have read the previous content of this blog, you know that some industries pay much higher than others. For instance, industries like investment management, finance, software development, and computer hardware offer higher packages than energy or education. However, this can also depend on other factors listed below. 

In the popular sectors, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and other top university graduates earn up to INR 1.54 crores per annum. The average salary can go up to INR 1.11 crores or above for others. 

Job roles

Different job roles offer different salaries. For instance, according to Payscale, the average annual wage of a software engineer in the USA is INR 87.84 lakhs. On the other hand, a senior software engineer earns an average salary of INR 1.03 crores. Similarly, a data analyst earns an initial average wage of INR 59.39 lakhs, whereas a data scientist earns INR 1.15 crores.

Job location

Some cities in the USA are more expensive than others. Consequently, the salaries offered in such cities are often higher than those in less expensive ones. For instance, the average annual salary of a software engineer in Ohio is INR 61.79 lakhs. California and Massachusetts, on the other hand, offer an average salary of INR 94.40 lakhs and INR 1.05 crores, respectively.

Your salary is also affected by factors such as your previous work experience, study area, technical knowledge, and negotiating skills. 

How to find a job after an MS in Computer Science in the USA?

Finding a job after an MS in Computer Science in the USA can be difficult. The entire process could be stressful, from polishing your skills and resume to sitting through multiple rounds of interviews. Here are a few tips that can help your job search easier:

• Take advantage of the resources your university’s career development cell offers. Top universities in the USA organize job fairs, alumni networking events, seminars, and other events. Be active in these events and use them to create professional opportunities. 
• Most universities keep summer internships a mandatory part of the curriculum. You can leave an impression on your managers or employers through this opportunity. If you perform well, these internships can lead to a full-time job post-graduation. 
• Build a professional brand on platforms like LinkedIn. This can be a great way to connect with top management from various companies.  

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