Less than two decades ago, computer vision was considered a newer technology that was just starting to be adopted. Now, in 2020, computer vision usage continues to increase and is helping industries make strides in the areas of safety, productivity, accuracy and reliability, and more. This means there are more computer vision jobs available than ever before. 

Find out more about what the job entails, the skills needed, salary details, and the industries where computer vision jobs are in the most demand.

How’s Computer Vision Used?

Those with computer vision jobs are focused on finding innovative ways to integrate the technology into areas that can benefit everyone in both their personal and professional lives. 

In terms of everyday uses, computer vision is applied in a multitude of ways, including:

  • Search Engines: When you ask Google to find you an image, it’s using computer vision to search the image library.
  • Image Enhancement : Increased ability to zoom in and sharpen images.
  • Facial Recognition: Used when you unlock your phone or when Facebook is able to identify pictures of you. 
  • Content Moderation: Social media platforms have to comb through millions of photos a day to find banned content such as nudity, violence, and extremism.

More advanced uses of computer vision can be found in the industries of defense, manufacturing, retail, finance, medicine, and more. For example, in the medical field it’s used to analyze images captured through X-rays or MRI to help detect cancer.  In retail, it can be integrated into bots that scan shelves to identify items that are out of stock.

Opportunities for Computer Vision Jobs

There are several types of computer vision jobs in the field, including engineer, researcher, developer, programmer, and scientist. Opportunities are plentiful, and the compensation for these roles is highly competitive.

On Glassdoor.com, at the time of this post, there were listings for over 6,800 computer vision jobs in the United States alone. The salary range for computer vision jobs runs from $68,000 to $136,000 with a median salary just shy of $100,000 per year.

Background and Experience

Those looking for computer vision jobs will need a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or a similar field. Also, experience working with linear algebra math libraries and other similar computer vision libraries may be something employers are looking for.

Like other roles related to machine learning, potential candidates will need to possess various skills including database management, as well as experience with component or object-oriented software, and fluency in C++, OpenCV, and PCL. Additionally, experience in 3D computer vision and video analytics algorithms, as well as machine learning algorithms for vision problems, including deep learning, is typically required.

What Do Computer Vision Jobs Entail?

Depending on your area of specialization, job responsibilities will vary, but here’s some of what you can expect if you choose to pursue computer vision jobs related to engineering:

  • Develop, test, and evaluate vision algorithms to control robots and other advanced hardware systems created for human interaction environments. 
  • Implement and optimize analytics and machine learning algorithms using special purpose computing architectures. 
  • Propose and implement creative, efficient solutions for vision and control problems.
  • Perform technical performance benchmarking and analyses to support engineering decisions. 
  • Determine project specifications and project schedule, calculating time requirements and sequencing project elements.

Computer Vision Jobs Demand the Right Skills

Being part of a growth field means that there are many opportunities for computer vision jobs for people with a passion for machine learning and the right skills. 

Do you need to round out your skills and experience so you can secure the computer vision job of your dreams?

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