Data Scientists
81% skill match · $120,230 · +20% pay
First step
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Skills to add
Instructing · Service Orientation
Is this right for you?
- Tight deadlines are common
Jobs for Former Computer Programmers
Computer Programmers build programming, complex problem solving and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Data Scientists (81%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Skills you enjoy
Pick the skills you want to keep using. The list re-ranks.Sorted by skill match.
25 careers that use your skills
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data Scientists | 81% | $120,230 | +20% | None |
| 2 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 77% | $161,740 | +61% | None |
| 3 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | 74% | $175,140 | +74% | None |
| 4 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 74% | $122,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Physical Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Statisticians | 72% | $105,650 | +5% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 72% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Business Intelligence Analysts | 71% | $120,230Pay for the broader BLS group “Data Scientists” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Clinical Data Managers | 71% | $120,230Pay for the broader BLS group “Data Scientists” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 69% | $81,490Pay for the broader BLS group “Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Operations Research Analysts | 69% | $88,940 | −11% | Graduate degree |
- 81%
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Pay change
- +20%
Extra educationNone - 77%
- Median pay
- $161,740
- Pay change
- +61%
Extra educationNone - 74%
- Median pay
- $175,140
- Pay change
- +74%
Extra educationNone - 74%
- Median pay
- $122,570
- Pay change
- Not compared
Extra educationNone - 72%
- Median pay
- $105,650
- Pay change
- +5%
Extra educationGraduate degree - 72%
- Median pay
- $130,220
- Pay change
- Not compared
Extra educationNone - 71%
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Pay change
- Not compared
Extra educationNone - 71%
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Pay change
- Not compared
Extra educationNone - 69%
- Median pay
- $81,490
- Pay change
- Not compared
Extra educationNone - 69%
- Median pay
- $88,940
- Pay change
- −11%
Extra educationGraduate degree
Compared with Computer Programmers, median $100,390. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
Your transferable skills
How important each skill is in work as computer programmers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
Programming4.75
Complex Problem Solving3.75
Quality Control Analysis3.50
Systems Analysis3.38
Judgment and Decision Making3.25
Operations Analysis3.12
Skills to learn
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
- Instructing
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Service Orientation
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
Your top 3 moves, up close
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
Computer Hardware Engineers
77% skill match · $161,740 · +61% pay
First step
- Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (48% of workers).
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Skills to add
Equipment Selection · Equipment Maintenance · Repairing
Is this right for you?
- Tight deadlines are common
Computer and Information Systems Managers
74% skill match · $175,140 · +74% pay
First step
- Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (48% of workers).
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Skills to add
Management of Financial Resources · Management of Personnel Resources · Equipment Selection
Is this right for you?
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Similar roles in the same field
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
Free help near you
Questions former computer programmers ask
What jobs can former computer programmers do?
The closest matches are Data Scientists (81% skill match, median $120,230), Computer Hardware Engineers (77% skill match, median $161,740) and Computer and Information Systems Managers (74% skill match, median $175,140), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Which computer programmer career changes pay more?
Among the 25 matches, 12 pay more than computer programmers at the median. The biggest increases: Computer and Information Systems Managers (+74%, $175,140), Physicists (+72%, $172,250) and Computer Hardware Engineers (+61%, $161,740).
Do former computer programmers need another degree?
21 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 4 usually need a graduate degree: Statisticians, Operations Research Analysts and Physicists.
How is the skill match calculated?
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.