Okay so I'm a freshman in high school. I'm planning to go into computer science and/or web development as a major and as a job. Or is getting a minor in C.S. and majoring in Physics (first priority but can be different) better?
After looking at a thread about how much money programmers make ([url]http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=857533[/url]), is it worth it as a full time job?
If you have experience which has benefitted you better:
1. Get some other full time job and have a website with applications to sell.
2. Get a job at a company that employs developers.
Just have a job doing something you like doing. If that's physics, then fine, you can have programming as a hobby. Who cares if you make $60,000 instead of $50,000 doing something you dislike?
Don't get a Computer Science job just for the money, do it because you like it.
Programmers get decent money, you'll be able to live off it, but don't expect $100k a year or anything.
If you don't like programming, you're going to hate your job, and it won't be worth it at all.
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I got a programming job as a Senior in high school, so if you can get experience early that'd help you later. If you got a job right now, don't expect more than minimum wage. I get paid $9 an hour for 4 hours a day, and I've been working there for about 16 months.
But I'm racking up tons of experience to go along with the degree I'm working on.
If you get a major in physics (because you enjoy physics) you will be very desirable and will make pretty decent money.
There are so many programs out there for physicist right now, even high school physics teachers make something like $65,000 a year because they are in demand.
There are a ton of other jobs that require a physics degree also.
But honestly pick something you like.
If you get a job because you want the money you will be bad at your job because you are doing it for the wrong reason.
Most veteran programs make around $100,000 a year working at a game development studio. Starting out you would be making around $60,000 a year which quite frankly is a good deal of money. Plus the industry is wanting much more exceptionally talented programmers as well as people in other fields. Programming (in the games industry at least) will earn you quite a fair share.
I'm studying B.Sc. in Computer Science and the jobs I'm being offered are ~17€/hour which isn't bad at all.
But you'll need to love to do this ;)
Actually, knowing some programming may just help out with your Physics.
One point I can say from the experiences my Dad has is that if you go into programming full time you will be under a lot of pressure to get things done.
You will always be rushed to get what you are doing finished as soon as you can. This is why most software is patched up within a short time after it's release, because they don't have time to get it finished properly.
If you don't work too well under pressure then don't get a full time job programming and keep it for a hobby.
What Wickedgenius said is a very good point.
And be prepared to deal with a lot of stupid people.
It isn't that they are stupid, it is just they don't understand programming so they tend to ask stupid questions or suggest stupid ideas.
You may or may not have to deal with the customers exactly which wouldn't be as bad, but if you do you may cut your time short as a professional programmer.
Referring to what Wickedgenius said , you should find a job that will wait for you to get it done properly, not rush you into making [B]shit[/B]. There are some, if you find one, you're lucky.
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