Also called: Quantum Developer
Writes the software, compilers, and tools that let people program quantum computers.
You write code that translates a quantum program into exact pulses a machine can run, then debug why results come back noisy. You might also build tutorials or tools used by thousands of developers online.
Quantum jobs are new and not tracked separately by BLS; figures are estimates from industry salary surveys and related occupations.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in computer science or physics; experience with Qiskit, Cirq, or similar.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics.
Growing much faster than average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI writes much of the code, as in other software jobs; quantum know-how keeps engineers needed in a small field.
Classes: AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, AP Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 15-1252.
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.