Is it possible to succeed in computer science or software development just for the money?

I'm studying computer science in college. In my first year, all students took the same curriculum, which included some general courses, including English. Our professor asked everyone to stand up, introduce themselves, explain why they were there, and what they hoped to gain from the program.

The responses fell into two categories. The first category consisted of those who loved computers, had some exposure to programming, and wanted to improve their skills. The second category consisted of those who said they'd heard a career in computers was a good way to make money.

Guess which category was still there when my second year began?

Can you pursue a career in a field solely for the money? Of course. Are you willing to endure the constant pain that comes with doing so? By "pain," I mean the constant need to learn and relearn a wide variety of things, the pressure of interacting with non-technical people, the hassle of constantly having to look up information because you don't want to learn, and the feeling that you're mediocre or inferior to your peers who truly enjoy learning.

In this field, people with smooth talk and flowery speech can't survive long. They exist, but they never reach senior technical positions. Why? Because eventually, those with more competence will sniff out their nonsense and look down on you. You'll be seen as a fool, a self-righteous idiot who knows nothing. I've worked with people like this for years, and despite their tireless efforts to achieve higher goals, their incompetence is well known.

They're not respected. They're not trusted. They're seen as worthless playthings, like bait to be tolerated and quickly disposed of.

So the question you need to ask yourself is: Do you want to be seen as an incompetent idiot for the rest of your life? I don't think you understand how important reputation is in this field. Technicians subconsciously rank and rate each other based on their skills; they know who's good and who's bad. Reputation is the currency of this ranking system. Problem solver, technical whiz, code whiz. Unless you have a natural talent that fuels your passion for money, you can't be any of these things.

Once your reputation is damaged or lost, it's difficult to recover. It's a bit like a bad credit rating: easy to lose, hard to regain.

A better option might be to take a science course or get a programming certification and then enter some kind of management track. A good salary and some technical skills will give you perspective, and being honest about your lack of technical skills will allow you to get along well with the technical people around you and listen to their opinions.

Money comes from talent. If you lack talent and the desire to develop it, don't be surprised if it goes unrewarded.