Computer Science vs Information Technology: Careers, Degrees, and More

Computer science and information technology (IT) are distinct subjects despite their many similarities. Generally, computer science refers to designing and building computers and computer programs. Information technology, on the other hand, refers to maintaining and troubleshooting computers and their networks, systems, and databases to ensure they run smoothly.

So, while working in a computer science-based job might mean you’ll create software, design websites, or gather information on visitors to a website, a career in IT can mean you’ll make sure computers are functional and secure.

The line between IT and computer science is often blurry. Sometimes, working in IT will require knowledge of computer science principles, and being a programmer will mean carrying out tasks that you may consider more IT-related. However, sometimes jobs that are computer-science heavy, like web development or software engineering, are also referred to as IT work. 

The basics of what you need to know concerning computer science vs. information technology are as follows:

• Though there are many overlaps between computer science and IT, computer science generally involves designing and building computers and computer programs. IT work deals more with running an organisation's computers and ensuring the related networks, systems, and security are operational.

• Salaries range widely for IT and computer science-based jobs, with some offering high salaries. Some entry-level IT work that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree may have a lower salary.

• If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, it may be easier to start work in IT than in a computer science-based role.

Computer science vs IT careers

IT and computer science careers can take you in many directions, but they do have distinct paths. Jobs grounded in computer science will broadly mean working with programming languages or data to develop or improve products. Jobs in IT will focus more heavily on operating computers and their networks and systems so that others in an organisation can do their work smoothly.

Several roles, like cloud computing or database administration, might straddle the line between computer science and IT.

Computer science and IT salaries

Salaries for both IT and computer science vary widely. Jobs that require specialised knowledge to build, program, or maintain computers can require experience or a degree, which can lead to higher salaries. Some generalist entry-level IT jobs may have lower starting salaries. Here’s a sampling of salaries from various computer science and IT-related jobs.

IT skills and computer science skills

Below is a comparison of what you might want to know as an IT practitioner or a computer science professional.

Can I switch from an IT to a computer science job or vice versa?

Switching from a career in IT to something closer to computer science, or the opposite, is possible. You should ensure you have the appropriate skills to make the switch. For example, if you want to become a front-end engineer, you might find it useful to know programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You can know what skills you’ll need for a new position by looking at several job descriptions. From there, you can take courses, enroll in a boot camp, or find other ways to gain your needed skills.

Breaking into IT and computer science

A degree can set you on a solid path to gaining a competitive edge for many computer-based jobs. IT jobs, however, particularly entry-level ones, might have less strict degree requirements. 

If you’re looking for ways to break into IT without studying it at college or university, you can get an entry-level IT certification or consider a professional certificate programme like the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.

Computer science vs IT degrees

Many universities offer computer science or related degrees, like computer engineering. Some may also offer IT degrees or IT specialisations within computer science.

Computer science degrees aim to teach you the basic mathematical and scientific concepts behind computers and their programs. A degree in computer science can help you design software and hardware while learning programming languages, data structures, and artificial intelligence concepts. Computer science degrees might require studying mathematics, statistics, or engineering courses.

A degree or specialisation in IT can help you learn essential systems and networking concepts, security practices, and application development. Similar fields of study can be called information systems.

Get started in computer science or IT with Coursera

Both IT and computer science can lead to lucrative and engaging careers. If you’re looking for a place to start, consider a bachelor’s or master’s computer science degree offered on Coursera or the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.