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Career overview · SOC 15-1252

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

Also called: Application Developer · Application Integration Engineer · Developer · DevOps Engineer (Development Operations Engineer) · Infrastructure Engineer · Software Architect

Median pay (national)
$133,080
$79,850–$211,450 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
1,654,440
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+15.8%
~115,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for software developers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $211,450 versus $79,850 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $133,080 leaves roughly 59% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +15.8% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 115,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $170,910, +28% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $64,350 — a 166% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Amazon Web Services AWS software, Apache Kafka, Atlassian JIRA, C as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Learning
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Mathematics
  • Learning Strategies
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  • Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
  • Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
  • Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
  • Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
  • Determine system performance standards.
  • Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.

Tools & technology

  • Amazon Web Services AWS software
  • Apache Kafka
  • Atlassian JIRA
  • C
  • C#
  • C++
  • Cascading style sheets CSS
  • Docker
  • Git
  • GitHub
  • Go
  • Google Angular
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • IBM Terraform
  • JavaScript
  • Jenkins CI

Knowledge areas

  • Computers and Electronics
  • Mathematics
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Education and Training
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Telecommunications