Job Description
If you enjoy computers and computer programming, a career in software development might be just the job for you. Software development jobs run the gamut from web developers to software developers and database administrators to computer programmers and everything in between.
Software developers work closely with computer programmers and are vital in many industries, including the IT world and software publishing, finance, engineering, and manufacturing.
Software development careers build upon the knowledge and skills needed in the information technology (IT) and computer world. Most people in software development jobs begin their careers in web development and work their way up to computer programming and software development.
Specifically, software developers design and build computer programs and applications, often through writing the code for the programs. Sometimes, the software developer will direct a computer programmer to write the code.
Whether the computer programmer writes the code or the software developer, the code is written in a computer language such as C, Python, Java, or JavaScript.
Some developers may focus more on operating systems for desktop or mobile usage. Part of the software developer’s or computer programmer’s goal is to identify the user’s needs, build out a program, test the new software to discover bugs in the system, and then make improvements to serve the users’ needs in a better way.
A web developer designs and builds web pages. They do this on the back end of a website, but their work creates the front-end appearance of the site, or what computer users see when they visit a web page.
A database administrator stores and organizes computer data for an organization. Their duties also involve backing up and securing the data.
Software Development Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers earn a median annual salary of $52.95 an hour, or $110,140 per year. Database administrators make slightly less at $98,860 a year or $47.53 an hour.
A career in computer programming falls next in the salary range at $89,190 a year on average, or $42.88 an hour. Web developers earn less but still make a respectable $77,200 per year on average, or $37.12 an hour.
For Instances
- Rapid Micro Biosystems has available software development jobs that include software development engineering and QA roles.
- Benaroya Research Institute is looking to hire a biomedical research software engineer for its Seattle office.
- Medical engineering firm Johnson & Johnson is advertising several open IT and software development jobs on its website to fulfill openings at multiple locations, including California, Washington, and Florida.
Training and Requirements
Software developers and other related workers typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or IT. Database professionals also usually have a bachelor’s in computer science or IT.
But many employers will hire web developers and computer programmers who only hold an associate degree or have extensive experience.
The IT field is one of the most flexible in terms of educational requirements for software development and related workers. While some employers tend to place a higher priority on formal training, many put a lot of value on skilled and experienced programming or IT professionals.
What seems to matter significantly in the field of web and software development, computer programming, and related fields is that a candidate has the hard skills and knowledge to do the work with great competency. Someone can graduate with a computer science degree. However, it is ultimately familiarization and experience with programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and other highly technical advanced skills that will land them a job.
Soft skills such as problem-solving abilities, excellent communication, collaboration skills, and superb attention to detail are also a must.
