Pin down what users want
Ask users their needs, note schedule, budget, security, and speed limits, then list what the program must do.
Career profile
Software Developer
Software developers plan, build, test, and maintain the programs behind devices, apps, and organizations' systems.
Coding is just one piece. Developers also work out what a program is for, fit its parts together, and track down why it breaks.
A day in the life
Wire the parts into one system
You map how parts pass data, code them or guide other coders, and join them into one system.
Chase errors until it works
Run tests, recreate errors on purpose, read the output, and adjust the code until it behaves as planned.
Talk designs through together
Talk through designs, code changes, project limits, and hard technical problems with managers, clients, testers, or other developers.
Keep released software running
Monitor released software, fix bugs, adapt it to changed needs or new hardware, and log every change.
Quick facts
Bachelor's degree typically
United States
$135,980 median
United States · May 2025
10% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Bachelor's degree typicallyBLS identifies a bachelor's in computer and information technology or a related field as typical entry preparation. Individual employers may use different screens.
Pay
$135,980 medianMedian annual wage for software developers. This is the national midpoint, not starting pay or a guaranteed offer.
Outlook
10% projected growthBLS projects software-developer employment to grow 10% nationally; local openings and competition will differ.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like turning a vague need into precise rules.
- You can patiently trace a problem through several layers.
- You are comfortable explaining technical choices and hearing other people's constraints.
- You are willing to keep learning as tools and languages change.
Things to weigh
- Expect long stretches at a computer: 95% of O*NET respondents reported sitting continually or almost continually.
- Deadlines and stubborn failures can create bursts of pressure; 40% of O*NET respondents reported time pressure once a week or more, but not every day.
- Learning does not stop after school. BLS says developers must keep current with new tools and computer languages.
Where AI may help
AI coding assistants can complete lines, draft code blocks and tests, and propose edits from nearby code and instructions.
What people still lead
Developers still decide whether a suggestion fits the requirement and codebase, then review and test it for correctness and security before it ships.
What we can’t predict yet
How AI coding assistants will affect entry-level hiring and job security across employers remains uncertain.
Pay in context
Earnings
Employer industry, location, experience, and responsibility can shift pay.
National midpoint
The median annual wage was $135,980: half of software developers earned more and half earned less. The median hourly wage was $65.38.
The national spread
In May 2025, the 10th-percentile annual wage was $82,460 and the 90th-percentile wage was $214,670. These are wage percentiles, not starting and senior salaries.
Industry can shift the midpoint
Median annual wages were $164,550 in software publishing and $132,050 in computer systems design and related services.
Getting started
College degree route
Usually about four years for a bachelor's degree
- What the route involves
- Study computer and information technology or a related field such as engineering or mathematics, build a programming foundation, and pursue an internship if available.
- What it can lead to
- Matches the typical entry education BLS identifies for software-developer positions.
- What to check
- Typical does not mean universal. Degree subjects, portfolio expectations, interviews, and experience screens vary by employer.
Registered apprenticeship, where offered
Length and application requirements vary by sponsorPaid
- What the route involves
- Work as a paid employee, learn on the job with an experienced mentor, and complete related instruction.
- What it can lead to
- Builds structured workplace experience and leads to a portable, nationally recognized apprenticeship credential.
- What to check
- Software Developer is an approved apprenticeship occupation title, but actual programs, openings, eligibility, and locations depend on employers and sponsors.
A bachelor's degree is the usual national signal, but a registered apprenticeship can provide a supervised employment route where a sponsor offers one.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn the team's codebase, standards, tools, and release process. Take responsibility for scoped changes and respond carefully to review.
Build range
Own more of a feature's design, testing, documentation, maintenance, and technical communication while keeping your tools and language knowledge current.
Specialize or lead
Develop deeper knowledge of a product or technical area, guide larger system decisions, or coordinate other people's work.
- Specialize in applications or systems software.
- Move toward project management or information-systems management.
Where you can work
Software publishers
Build and maintain software products. Work is usually office-based and collaborative, with priorities shaped by releases, defects, and product changes.
- Indoors
- Office
Systems-design and consulting firms
Develop or adapt systems around customer requirements. Projects may change as different clients bring different technology, budgets, and constraints.
- Indoors
- Office
In-house technology teams
Work inside finance, insurance, manufacturing, or another non-software business, where its operations and rules shape what the software must do.
- Indoors
- Office
Try the work
Build one tiny tool and watch someone use it
Choose an everyday annoyance, write five requirements, and build the smallest working tool you can. Ask one person to try it without coaching, then fix the first confusing step or failure you observe. Notice whether defining rules, debugging, and revising from feedback holds your attention.
Stay safe: Use fictional data and a free tool; do not upload personal, school, financial, or account information.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers. Accessed 2026-09-14.
- O*NET OnLine. 15-1252.00 — Software Developers. Accessed 2026-09-14.
- Apprenticeship.gov, U.S. Department of Labor. Career Seekers. Accessed 2026-09-14.
- GitHub. Application card: GitHub Copilot inline suggestions. Accessed 2026-09-14.