Goodbye, $165,000 Tech Jobs: Computer Science Graduates Struggle to Find Work Amid Industry Shift
By Natasha Singer | The New York Times | August 10, 2025
For years, students like Manasi Mishra were encouraged by Silicon Valley leaders, tech executives, and even U.S. presidents to learn computer programming, with promises of lucrative jobs and six-figure starting salaries. But as tech giants such as Amazon and Microsoft increasingly adopt artificial intelligence coding tools and reduce their workforce, the landscape for new graduates with computer science degrees has changed dramatically — and not for the better.
The Changing Tech Job Market
Manasi Mishra, 21, grew up near Silicon Valley in San Ramon, California, surrounded by stories of tech’s endless opportunity. “The rhetoric was, if you just learned to code, work hard and get a computer science degree, you can get six figures for your starting salary,” she said. Inspired by this vision, Ms. Mishra began coding in elementary school and pursued advanced computing classes in high school before earning a computer science degree from Purdue University.
Yet despite her dedication and educational background, Ms. Mishra has struggled to land a job in tech. After a year-long search, her only interview offers have ironically come from outside the industry—most notably, Chipotle. She shared her experience in a TikTok video that quickly gained traction with over 147,000 views, highlighting a growing trend among recent graduates facing a tightening market.
The Impact of AI and Economic Shifts
The shift in hiring practices at major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft is driven in part by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence tools that automate coding and other technical tasks. These advancements, combined with broader economic factors leading to layoffs in the tech sector, have reduced demand for entry-level coding positions.
Tech companies once hailed as engines of high-wage employment are now reevaluating their workforce needs, leading to a surplus of qualified graduates competing for fewer opportunities. This reality starkly contrasts with the earlier decade’s optimism when billionaires and tech leaders promoted computer science education as a reliable pathway to economic stability.
From Promise to Reality
For a generation raised on the promise of the tech boom, the transition to a more automated and consolidated industry presents profound challenges. Many computer science graduates find themselves resorting to jobs unrelated to their careers in tech, such as service positions at restaurants like Chipotle, just to make ends meet.
This paradigm shift poses questions about the future of computer science education, workforce development, and the role of AI in reshaping job markets. It also underscores the need for students and educators to adapt their expectations and strategies in an industry that is evolving faster than ever before.
Looking Ahead
As the "hard tech" era gives way to a new age defined by artificial intelligence and automation, the path from education to employment is less certain. Graduates like Ms. Mishra represent a cohort caught between soaring expectations and a job market that is rapidly transforming under the influence of technology itself.
The once-perceived straightforward route to a six-figure tech job now appears far more complex and competitive. Industry leaders, educators, and policymakers will need to collaborate to address these challenges and support the next generation of tech professionals in navigating this new reality.
Natasha Singer covers technology companies and their societal impacts for The New York Times.
Read more on technology, education, and workforce trends at The New York Times.
