Also called: Supercomputer Systems Administrator, Research Computing Engineer
Runs supercomputers at universities and national labs so scientists can simulate climate, stars and molecules.
You keep a 5,000-node supercomputer running, install new software for physicists, and help a biology grad student whose job keeps crashing.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 5 years after high school. Bachelor's in computer science or a science field plus Linux experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Computer Science, Physics, Information Technology.
Growing faster than average. Growing with AI and scientific computing.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI demand is growing supercomputer centers; automation handles routine monitoring, but running clusters stays expert work.
Classes: AP Computer Science A, Physics, Computer applications.
Official data: O*NET occupation 15-1244.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.