# Computer Programmers

> Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-programmers
- SOC code: 15-1251.00
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $100,390 (10th percentile $57,710, 90th percentile $160,460)
- Projected growth: Decline, -7.3%
- Openings a year: 4,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 40 |
| Investigative (I) | 68 |
| Artistic (A) | 25 |
| Social (S) | 16 |
| Enterprising (E) | 18 |
| Conventional (C) | 82 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 99/100)
- Processing Information (importance 90/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 86/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 84/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 78/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Programming, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Systems Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Design, Education and Training, Geography, Administrative

## Also called

.NET Programmer, Analyst Programmer, Application Programmer, Application Programmer Analyst, Applications Programmer, Automation Programmer, Beta Tester, Bug Bounty Hunter, Business Programmer, Certified Ethical Hacker

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5107) (CIP 5107, 1,585 colleges)
- [Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1107) (CIP 1107, 1,070 colleges)
- [Computer Software and Media Applications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1108) (CIP 1108, 701 colleges)
- [Computer Programming](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1102) (CIP 1102, 608 colleges)
- [Management Information Systems and Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5212) (CIP 5212, 550 colleges)
- [Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1109) (CIP 1109, 546 colleges)
- [Data Analytics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3071) (CIP 3071, 366 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1512) (CIP 1512, 229 colleges)
- [Computational Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3030) (CIP 3030, 109 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Computer Science | $173,492 | $268,121 | $19,000 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Computer Science | $171,815 | $225,141 | $10,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Computer Science | $151,551 | $223,309 | $12,500 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Computer Science | $155,162 | $217,973 | not reported |
| [Pomona College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pomona-college-2139) | Computer Science | $100,072 | $217,051 | not reported |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Computer Science | $157,763 | $214,907 | $12,000 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Computer Science | $141,816 | $214,479 | $15,000 |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Computer Science | $109,425 | $209,574 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Software Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-developers): $135,980 median pay
- [Web and Digital Interface Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-and-digital-interface-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Computer Systems Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-analysts): $105,850 median pay
- [Database Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-administrators): $104,620 median pay
- [Database Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-architects): $139,500 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.