💡 Why it matters: Quantum computers could one day help design new medicines or batteries in hours. The few people who learn to programme them early could help shape an entirely new kind of computing.
🌍 Around the world
- United States: Jobs are projected to grow 22% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
A job of the future expected 2030s
Quantum computers are still early and mostly in labs, but they are expected to solve problems in medicine, materials and security that normal computers cannot. They will need specially trained programmers.
This is an informed prediction, not a promise. The skills below are useful whichever way the future goes.
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦3M – ₦7M
- Mid-career
- ₦8M – ₦18M
- Senior
- ₦18M – ₦40M
≈ ₦667k – ₦1.5M a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Typical starter to experienced salary (closest profile: Software developer). National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 United States
Closest US category: Computer and information research scientists. Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Indicative mid-career range (our estimate, not yet checked against an official source). Incusim estimate
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Write programmes for quantum computers
- Turn real problems into quantum form
- Test ideas on simulators and early machines
- Work with physicists and chemists
- Help companies prepare for quantum security risks
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Advanced maths
- Physics understanding
- Coding
- Curiosity
- Patience
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Free online quantum courses from IBM and others using cloud simulators
- Master's or PhD in physics or computing abroad, often with scholarships
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Free online quantum courses with cloud simulators
- Software developer role first, then specialise
🇺🇸 United States
- Research internships at universities or labs
- Free online quantum programming courses
🇨🇦 Canada
- Co-op or research placements in university labs
- Free online quantum programming courses
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Excel at Maths and Physics
- 2Learn Python and basic coding
- 3Study Physics, Maths or Computer Science
- 4Try free quantum programming tools online
- 5Pursue a Master's or research role in the field
⏰ A day in the life
You test a quantum programme that could help plan the best delivery routes. You compare it with a normal computer, adjust your code, and discuss the results with a physicist in another country.