Software Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Software engineers create or customize existing software programs to meet the needs of a particular business or industry. First, they spend considerable time researching, defining, and analyzing the problem at hand. Then, they develop software programs to resolve the problem on the computer. They may also create software applications that are used for informational purposes or entertainment. There are nearly 1.5 million software designers and developers, which includes software engineers, employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Software engineers earned median annual salaries of $69,646 as of September 2020, according to Salary.com. The lowest paid 10 percent averaged less than $54,912, and the highest paid 10 percent earned $83,403 or more annually. When software engineers are promoted to project team leader or software manager, they earn even more. Software engineers generally earn more in geograph...
Work Environment
Software engineers usually work in comfortable office environments. Overall, they usually work 40-hour weeks, but their hours depend on the nature of the employer and expertise of the engineer. In consulting firms, for example, it is typical for software engineers to work long hours and frequently travel to out-of-town assignments. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that it is common for soft...
Outlook
Employment opportunities for software engineers are expected to grow 22 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations, through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Demands made on computers increase every day and from all industries. Rapid growth in the computer systems design and related industries will account for much of this growth. In addition, businesses will...