# Software Developers

SOC 15-1252. Page: https://educationguide.com/careers/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.

## Pay and outlook
- U.S. median wage $135,980 (middle half $105,210–$171,980; BLS May 2025)
- Ages 25-34: median $121,830; 90% hold a bachelor's or higher (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Jobs 2025-35: 10.2%; ~95.3k openings a year; typical entry: Bachelor's degree

## Fields of degree of young workers (ages 25-34, bachelor's+)
- Computer Science: 32% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/computer-science)
- Computer Engineering: 11% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/computer-engineering)
- Electrical Engineering: 8% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/electrical-engineering)
- Computer And Information Systems: 4% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/computer-and-information-sciences)
- Mechanical Engineering: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/mechanical-engineering)
- Mathematics: 2% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/mathematics)
- General Engineering: 2% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/engineering)
- Business Management And Administration: 2% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/business-administration)
- Information Sciences: 1% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/information-science-studies)
- General Business: 1% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/business)

## Median wage by state
- AL: $122,540
- AR: $104,490
- AZ: $129,690
- CA: $174,410
- CO: $138,390
- CT: $134,120
- DC: $136,880
- DE: $133,020
- FL: $130,980
- GA: $131,010
- HI: $124,040
- IA: $114,890
- ID: $131,590
- IL: $132,110
- IN: $105,920
- KS: $113,420
- KY: $109,010
- LA: $102,800
- MA: $165,210
- MD: $138,680
- ME: $123,120
- MI: $125,570
- MN: $130,050
- MO: $126,120
- MS: $95,330
- MT: $121,990
- NC: $134,710
- ND: $105,600
- NE: $110,900
- NH: $139,720
- NJ: $135,940
- NM: $124,520
- NV: $128,810
- NY: $166,180
- OH: $114,090
- OK: $118,100
- OR: $142,720
- PA: $126,550
- PR: $79,380
- RI: $130,590
- SC: $129,450
- SD: $96,310
- TN: $122,430
- TX: $132,150
- UT: $128,810
- VA: $136,460
- VT: $125,280
- WA: $166,540
- WI: $122,660
- WV: $121,000
- WY: $115,170

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#careers

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0). O*NET data: CC BY 4.0, O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA).