what are some jobs that computer programmers get offered? how much do they get payed? Is it true that they get a lot of money?

This may not be the advice you want to hear, but it is what I tell my friends and family that have the same questions you have.

1 - don't get into a huge amount of debt just to go to college. There are ways around taking out loans. For example, attend a community college for the first 2 years, work on-campus somewhere, spend less, etc. I funded my college education by working at the campus computer labs. I didn't earn much, but I didn't live a very fancy lifestyle back then. I was able to graduate after 5 years, and got a good paying job. Getting a small loan is fine, I would question a loan amount that would take you longer than say 2-3 years to pay off.

2 - computer programming highly depends on the language you know and are willing to work with. For example, the languages I learned in college are just not used today, or they are used by a very very small set of companies. On the other hand, if you know Objective-C (the language used by Apple & iOS) you are much more marketable today and probably in the future. Other languages that are in high demand now are C, C++, Java, PHP, Ruby, etc. In the end, language isn't super important, you need to know the computer science basics. I find learning a new programming language is similar to learning a new spoken language.

3 - The pay is excellent, other professions that have similar pay require you to usually have more years of school. With that said, it's just like any job in that it's hard work. Not like manual labor hard work, but you will be sitting at a desk, typing a lot and if you are likely to develop carpel tunnel, or gain weight from sitting for long hours if you are not careful.

I had several options to choose from in terms of career when I started college. I couldn't be happier than I am now working in technology. The most important thing is probably to see if you enjoy computer science problem solving. The example I use is if you find the travelling salesman problem interesting or not. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_salesman_problem

Computer programmers write code to create software programs. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.

Work Environment
Programmers usually work in offices, most commonly in the computer systems design and related services industry.

How to Become a Computer Programmer
Most computer programmers have a bachelor’s degree; however, some employers hire workers with an associate’s degree. Most programmers specialize in a few programming languages.

Pay
The median annual wage for computer programmers was $74,280 in May 2012.

Job Outlook
Employment of computer programmers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Computer programming can be done from anywhere in the world, so companies sometimes hire programmers in countries where wages are lower.

Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of computer programmers with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to ONET
Learn more about computer programmers by visiting additional resources, including ONET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
from the department of labor stats. Basically they are outsourcing alot now too. Go for engineering you will be sure and get a job here. That may be the best for you however you can do cyber security too.IT is evolving quick, so get in now. Find what you want to do and stick with it so you can advance quickly Most companies are using what is good for them Like six sigma , cloud do reasearch on what business' es are doing now. Hybrid and downsizing because of technology. From what I have read the job of the future will be a thing you do not a place you go. That is outsourcing too. You must be competitive look in your area see how many companies are hiring and what forcast are being made? I hope that help you.

According to USNews reports the median annual wage for computer programmers was $77,550 in 2014. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made approximately $127,640, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $44,140. The highest-paid in the profession work in the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Washington; Vallejo, California; and Oxnard, California.

It ranks very high as far as best jobs in technology and there a plenty of openings. Here's a great link:
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/computer-programmer/salary

This may not be the advice you want to hear, but it is what I tell my friends and family that have the same questions you have.

1 - don't get into a huge amount of debt just to go to college. There are ways around taking out loans. For example, attend a community college for the first 2 years, work on-campus somewhere, spend less, etc. I funded my college education by working at the campus computer labs. I didn't earn much, but I didn't live a very fancy lifestyle back then. I was able to graduate after 5 years, and got a good paying job. Getting a small loan is fine, I would question a loan amount that would take you longer than say 2-3 years to pay off.

2 - computer programming highly depends on the language you know and are willing to work with. For example, the languages I learned in college are just not used today, or they are used by a very very small set of companies. On the other hand, if you know Objective-C (the language used by Apple & iOS) you are much more marketable today and probably in the future. Other languages that are in high demand now are C, C++, Java, PHP, Ruby, etc. In the end, language isn't super important, you need to know the computer science basics. I find learning a new programming language is similar to learning a new spoken language.

Here is a link to a industry survey of current salaries:

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/computer-programmer/salary

I would agree that the average salaries range from 65-80K per year. You have a good chance of getting a position in IT as there is demand for this skill set. Become proficient at languages such a C, C++, Java, Perl, Python. If you can do an internship it gives you credibility when you go to look for your first job. Once you have conquered these things do not rule out entrepreneurship, writing your own app and making it available to the general public can yield a nice income as well.