ScrypathO*NET-SOC: 15-1252.00
Designs, develops, tests, and maintains software applications and systems using programming languages, frameworks, and development tools to meet user and business requirements.
Take the quiz to see how you match
$133K
+26%
Min.
Work-Life Balance
Software developers build and maintain the applications and systems that people use every day, from websites and mobile apps to the behind-the-scenes tools that keep businesses running. They spend much of their time writing code, reading code written by teammates, and figuring out why something isn't working the way it should. A typical morning might involve joining a short team meeting to discuss what everyone is working on, then reviewing a colleague's code changes before diving into their own tasks, such as adding a new feature or fixing a bug that users reported.
A Day in the Life
9:00 AM
Review overnight notifications, prioritize open tasks in the team's tracker, and plan which items to tackle today.
9:30 AM
Daily stand-up meeting
Join a 15-minute video call with the team to share progress, flag anything blocking work, and coordinate on shared tasks.
10:00 AM
Read through a teammate's recent code changes, suggest improvements, and check for issues like missed edge cases or unclear logic.
11:00 AM
Write new code for a feature or fix, such as building a connection between the app and a database or adding caching to speed up a slow page.
12:30 PM
Step away for a meal, stretch, or quick walk to recharge before the afternoon push.
1:30 PM
Share a screen with a colleague to work through a tricky bug together, talking through the logic in real time.
3:00 PM
Run automated tests to make sure nothing is broken, merge the finished code, and push it through the deployment system so users can access it.
4:30 PM
Wrap-up and plan
Document what changed and why, log remaining tasks for tomorrow, and sign off unless an urgent issue comes in.
Tools &
Salary distribution for Software Developer: 10th percentile $80K, 25th $103K, median $133K, 75th $169K, 90th $211K Median $80K $103K $133K $169K $211K
Most professionals earn between $103K and $169K
Software Developer salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $80K 25th $103K 50th (Median) $133K 75th $169K 90th $211K
Software Developer salary by state map
Software Developer salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range California $171K — Washington $167K — New York $161K $86K - $223K Massachusetts $151K $99K - $208K Maryland $138K $86K - $218K District of Columbia $136K $87K - $204K Oregon $135K $92K - $212K Delaware $135K $94K - $169K Colorado $135K $93K - $211K Virginia $134K $83K - $208K New Hampshire $132K $86K - $199K New Jersey $132K $84K - $205K North Carolina $131K $80K - $174K Connecticut $131K $80K - $203K Vermont $131K $80K - $204K Texas $131K $79K - $175K Nevada $129K $76K - $204K Georgia $129K $76K - $174K Arizona $129K $80K - $186K Rhode Island $129K $83K - $168K Illinois $128K $75K - $172K Utah $127K $74K - $177K Florida $127K $75K - $174K Minnesota $125K $75K - $167K Pennsylvania $124K $74K - $167K New Mexico $121K $61K - $179K Hawaii $120K $54K - $194K Alaska $120K $93K - $197K Tennessee $117K $72K - $164K Nebraska $116K $77K - $146K Missouri $115K $63K - $163K Maine $114K $77K - $171K Alabama $113K $64K - $176K Wyoming $113K $62K - $164K Iowa $110K $71K - $169K South Carolina $109K $64K - $180K Idaho $108K $63K - $168K Michigan $108K $74K - $162K Ohio $108K $75K - $166K Oklahoma $107K $64K - $167K Kansas $107K $67K - $164K Kentucky $106K $71K - $165K Indiana $104K $69K - $151K West Virginia $104K $61K - $161K Wisconsin $103K $63K - $162K Louisiana $102K $64K - $154K Montana $100K $63K - $216K North Dakota $99K $63K - $153K Arkansas $97K $55K - $161K South Dakota $88K $60K - $131K Mississippi $86K $30K - $136K
Software Developer salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range California $171K — Washington $167K — New York $161K $86K - $223K Massachusetts $151K $99K - $208K Maryland $138K $86K - $218K District of Columbia $136K $87K - $204K Oregon $135K $92K - $212K Delaware $135K $94K - $169K Colorado $135K $93K - $211K Virginia $134K $83K - $208K New Hampshire $132K $86K - $199K New Jersey $132K $84K - $205K North Carolina $131K $80K - $174K Connecticut $131K $80K - $203K Vermont $131K $80K - $204K Texas $131K $79K - $175K Nevada $129K $76K - $204K Georgia $129K $76K - $174K Arizona $129K $80K - $186K Rhode Island $129K $83K - $168K Illinois $128K $75K - $172K Utah $127K $74K - $177K Florida $127K $75K - $174K Minnesota $125K $75K - $167K Pennsylvania $124K $74K - $167K New Mexico $121K $61K - $179K Hawaii $120K $54K - $194K Alaska $120K $93K - $197K Tennessee $117K $72K - $164K Nebraska $116K $77K - $146K Missouri $115K $63K - $163K Maine $114K $77K - $171K Alabama $113K $64K - $176K Wyoming $113K $62K - $164K Iowa $110K $71K - $169K South Carolina $109K $64K - $180K Idaho $108K $63K - $168K Michigan $108K $74K - $162K Ohio $108K $75K - $166K Oklahoma $107K $64K - $167K Kansas $107K $67K - $164K Kentucky $106K $71K - $165K Indiana $104K $69K - $151K West Virginia $104K $61K - $161K Wisconsin $103K $63K - $162K Louisiana $102K $64K - $154K Montana $100K $63K - $216K North Dakota $99K $63K - $153K Arkansas $97K $55K - $161K South Dakota $88K $60K - $131K Mississippi $86K $30K - $136K
Lower ($86K-$129K)Middle (~$129K)Higher ($129K-$171K)
AWS Certified Developer - Associate
Validates skills in developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications using AWS services like Lambda and API Gateway.
Covers designing, building, and managing applications on Google Cloud Platform, including microservices.
Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP)
Demonstrates mastery of software engineering principles, processes, and ethics for complex projects.
Provides foundational cybersecurity knowledge essential for secure coding practices.
Offers access to standards, conferences, and networking for professional growth in software development.
Work Setting Traditional office / indoor
Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction
Your Skills &
Skills &
Is Software Developer a good career?
Software Developer can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $133K and job outlook is growing (26% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match.
What degree do you need to become a Software Developer?
The typical education requirement for a Software Developer is a Bachelor's Degree. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience.
How long does it take to become a Software Developer?
Becoming a Software Developer typically requires about 4 years of undergraduate study. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements.
What is the work-life balance like for a Software Developer?
The work-life balance for a Software Developer is moderate, with some periods requiring extended hours or flexibility. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location.
What is the job outlook for Software Developer?
The job outlook for Software Developer is growing. Employment is projected to grow by 26% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization.
(opens in new tab)
Aggregated listings from across the web
(opens in new tab)
One of the largest job search engines
(opens in new tab)
Use arrow keys or swipe to scroll through related career cards
Designs and builds data communication networks, including local area networks, wide area networks, and intranets, evaluating business needs and planning network infrastructure for scalability and security.
Computer Systems Engineer / Architect
Designs and integrates complex computing systems, including hardware, software, networking, and cloud infrastructure, ensuring components work together to meet performance, scalability, and security requirements.
Provides technical assistance and support to computer users, troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues via phone, email, chat, or in person at help desks and IT departments.
Develops and applies techniques of data analysis, data mining, machine learning, and statistics to large structured and unstructured datasets to extract meaningful insights for business decision-making.
Plans, implements, upgrades, and monitors security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and information systems from cyberattacks, data breaches, and unauthorized access.
Interested in this role?