My Major

After high school, I want to go to college. And because of that, I need to find a major. I have two ideas of majors that I may want to get. I could either major in Computer Programming (category of Computer Science), or in Video/Film Production (category of Computer Science). Three jobs that I may be abel to get include:

Computer Programmer

People in this job write programs for computers using programming languages. They must think logically and figure out ways to write scripts so that the computer will do the desired thing. $74,900 (~5 times minimum wage) is the average pay for someone in this field, although it can vary between $40,820 and $114,180 (between ~2.7 and ~7.6 times minimum wage). This is probably before taxes. California pays its programmers about $10,000 more than the national average, while Washington State pays even more. It seems that states in the Northeast pay more than ones in the middle of the country, although there are exceptions. According to Naviance , people who typically program for computers are Investigative, Conventional, and Realistic. The College Board states that it helps to be "A problem solver who’s attentive to detail, patient, and able to work under pressure." (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) To become a Computer Programmer, a Bachelor's degree is recommended, as well as math, English, and computer skills.

Film and Video Editor

This is what my Internship has been primarily about recently. Video editors, as the name implies, edit video clips into a finished product. They may use multiple camera angles, or cut out unnecessary parts. The average wage is $61,890 (~4.1 times minimum wage), although it varies between $25,960 and $111,860 (1.7-7.4 times minimum wage). In many places, including Alaska, Missisipi, and the middle states, the pay is less than average. In dense/famous cities, such as Washington D.C., New York, and many areas of California, the pay is generally higher than the national average. Naviance states that people who typically program for computers are Artistic, Enterprising, and Investigative. The College Board believes that creativity, as well as technical skills, are good traits to have. The same website states that a Bachelor's degree with a relevant major is required to obtain this job.

Computer and Information Systems Managers

People who have this job direct, coordinate, and oversee the entire computer section of a business. They make crucial decisions such as what hardware to buy, and they also manage the many computer workers who rank below them while consulting with the executives above them. The average wage is $123,280 (a whopping 8.2 times minimum wage), though it varies from $71,420 to $166,400 (4.7-11 times minimum wage). As is typical for the jobs I have been discussing, the wages are the highest in dense cities in the Northeast and California, while it does not pay as much in the middle of the country.Naviance states that people who are Enterprising, Conventional, and Investigative would be good candidates for the job. In addition, The College Board believes that effective communication skills and a love of technology gadgets are good personality traits to have. A Master's Degree and work experience are necessary to get into this field, although a Bachelor's degree may be acceptable.

I could not find out whether the incomes were pre- or post-tax, although I assume them to be pre-. In addition, I am off of my internship as the boss is on a weeklong vacation for America's favorite holiday. Oh, and comment if the silver heading is too hard to see.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!