# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-developers
- SOC code: 15-1252.00
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $135,980 (10th percentile $82,460, 90th percentile $214,670)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +10.2%
- Openings a year: 95,300
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ICR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 44 |
| Investigative (I) | 84 |
| Artistic (A) | 23 |
| Social (S) | 14 |
| Enterprising (E) | 15 |
| Conventional (C) | 77 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 90/100)
- Processing Information (importance 85/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 84/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 83/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 77/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Programming, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension, Systems Analysis, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation, Technology Design

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology, Design, Telecommunications, Public Safety and Security, Production and Processing

## Also called

AI Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Specialist), Application Analyst, Application Architect, Application Developer, Application Engineer, Application Integration Engineer, Application Integrator, Application Programmer, Application Software Engineering IT Specialist (Application Software Engineering Information Technology Specialist), Application Support Engineer

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

- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1101) (CIP 1101, 1,547 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)
- [Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1109) (CIP 1109, 546 colleges)
- [Information Science/Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1104) (CIP 1104, 446 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1409) (CIP 1409, 417 colleges)
- [Data Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3070) (CIP 3070, 323 colleges)
- [Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1512) (CIP 1512, 229 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3008) (CIP 3008, 113 colleges)
- Accounting and Computer Science (CIP 3016, 17 colleges)
- Economics and Computer Science (CIP 3039, 11 colleges)
- Linguistics and Computer Science (CIP 3048, 4 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 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $143,850 | $241,380 | $11,000 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Computer Engineering | $137,925 | $228,705 | $17,731 |
| [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 |

## Related careers

- [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
- [Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-quality-assurance-analysts-and-testers): $104,300 median pay
- [Computer Programmers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-programmers): $100,390 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.