How much does a computer science earn in British Columbia?

Roughly $72,800 in the first years and $130,000 by year five (BC median, before tax). Source: WorkBC NOC 21231 (Job Bank BC wages 2025, High Opportunity); UBC 2026/27 domestic Science tuition.

How long does it take?

About 4 years, first real paycheque in about 4 years.

University degree

Computer science

Q: What does it cost in BC?

About $30,300 in tuition and fees; typical debt if you borrow $18,000. BC rates software roles High Opportunity (13,760 openings), unlike Ontario. Entry-level hiring remains competitive and UBC CS has competitive second-year entry.

BSc Computer Science (UBC/SFU/UVic)

Numbers for 24 of 30 verified for BC; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify

Trades go through SkilledTradesBC (4 levels, Youth Train in Trades lets you start Level 1 in high school). Numbers from WorkBC and Job Bank BC, BCIT, VCC and UBC.

Years to credential4

First real paycheque~4 years

Time in a classroom80%

Total cost$30,300

Typical debt after$18,000

Demand in BCHigh

The first ten years

schoolschoolschoolschoolschoolearnearnearnearnearn

Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

British Columbia median before tax. Overtime, location and specialisation change this a lot. Net by year 10 after program cost: $626k, low to high $523k to $727k.

What's in "net by year 10"

Earnings, years 1 to 10	$656k	4 years at $0 while in school, then $72,800 rising to $130,000 by year five, flat after
Program cost	−$30k	tuition and fees
Typical (medians)	$626k	the number on the card
Low to high	$523k to $727k	pay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the British Columbia median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isProgramming, algorithms, math; project work; ideally two or three internships.

What actually stops peopleAdmission averages in the 90s at top programs; internships are now essential and hard to get.

The downsideEntry-level hiring has cooled sharply. Outcomes are split between graduates with internships and those without.

If you're the parentStill one of the highest-paying degrees for those who land internships. The days of a guaranteed job at graduation are over.

Local opportunities in British Columbia

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How to enter

What you need

Courses: Advanced Functions, Calculus & Vectors, English (U)
Average around 85+

Deadlines in BC

EducationPlannerBC: most deadlines January 15 to March 15; some programs rolling
StudentAid BC opens in spring

Next steps in British Columbia

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In British ColumbiaBC rates software roles High Opportunity (13,760 openings), unlike Ontario. Entry-level hiring remains competitive and UBC CS has competitive second-year entry.

www.workbc.ca · students.ubc.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for BC Sources: WorkBC NOC 21231 (Job Bank BC wages 2025, High Opportunity); UBC 2026/27 domestic Science tuition

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