Design, develop, and maintain software applications and systems. Analyze user needs and build solutions using computer science and engineering principles, enhance existing software, and may work with hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software.
Pay
$83,130
Lower reported wage
$133,080
Median
$211,450
Upper reported wage
Annual U.S. salaries. Actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. The lower and upper figures do not represent starting and senior salaries.
BLS describes degree, programming, and experience preparation but does not identify a general software-developer licensing requirement. A cloud or project credential should be assessed against the specific employer’s needs; it is not a substitute for programming ability.[1]
Training pay & costs
Can I earn while training?
College internships can provide experience. BLS does not establish that every internship is paid or that every employer accepts the same educational alternatives.
Ask about tuition after aid, a suitable computer, software access, internship pay, and time for projects. Check whether an advertised certificate is actually requested in jobs you want.
Planning questions: request a written estimate from each program or sponsor. A total cost has not been verified here.
Majors and routes to explore
A related major can be preparation; it does not by itself qualify you for the career.
A related engineering route. Compare the program’s software coursework and employers’ requirements.[1]
Daily life
What you would do
Understand user needs, design software, collaborate on coding and testing, document systems, and maintain or improve products.[1]
Where you could work
Team-based work in areas such as computer services, software publishing, finance, and manufacturing. BLS describes office-based work.[1]
Hours and flexibility
Most work full time. This source does not establish a standard remote-work policy or on-call schedule; check both with each employer.[1]
Physical and emotional demands
The work requires sustained analysis, attention to detail, problem solving, and communication with technical and nontechnical colleagues.[1]
How you could advance
Developers may move into project management or computer and information systems management, overseeing development work. These roles add coordination and management responsibilities.[1]
These are possible directions. Promotion timing and pay depend on the role and employer.
Questions to ask yourself and an employer
Do I enjoy testing ideas, debugging problems, and learning new tools?
What are this team’s office, remote, release-deadline, and on-call expectations?
