Software developers

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

1.42M

Average Age

39.2

Average Salary

$119,989

Average Male Salary

$123,979

Average Female Salary

$101,896

About

Software developers are most often employed by the Computer Systems Design industry. The average yearly wage for Software developers was $119,989 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Software developers by wage are Optometrists, Financial analysts, and Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists.

Software developers are part of the Computer & mathematical occupations, along with Computer systems analysts, Information security analysts, Computer and information research scientists, Computer support specialists, Computer network architects, and 11 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Software developers are Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA, San Jose (Northwest) & Santa Clara Cities PUMA, CA, and Queen Anne & Magnolia PUMA, WA. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Software developers are Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA, San Jose (Northwest) & Santa Clara Cities PUMA, CA, and Greater Bellevue City PUMA, WA.

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Software developers and on wages and locations for those in the field. Computer Systems Design is the industry that employs the most Software developers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Software developers, by average wage, is Other consumer goods rental. Software developers are paid most in Suffolk County (East) PUMA, NY but are relatively concentrated in Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA.

Yearly Wage

$119,989

AVERAGE SALARY

± $1,658

In 2020, Software developers earned an average of $119,989, $64,035 more than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Optometrists make somewhat more than Software developers while Financial analysts make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Software developers as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.293

WAGE GINI

In 2019, Software developers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.293, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Software developers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Software developers.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Software developers

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Software developers.

Most Common

The most common industries employing Software developers, by number of employees, are Computer Systems Design, Architectural, engineering & related services, Insurance carriers, Banking & related activities, Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals, Management, scientific & technical consulting services, Securities, commodities, funds, trusts & other financial investments, Electronic component & product manufacturing, n.e.c. , Software publishing, Electronic shopping and mail-order houses, and Nondepository credit & related activities.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Software developers, by average wage, are Other consumer goods rental, Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals, and Taxi & limousine service.

Industries by Share

1.42M

2020 Workforce

± 29,090

10.8%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 2.69%

The number of people employed as Software developers has been growing at a rate of 10.8%, from 1,279,721 people in 2019 to 1,417,450 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Software developers employed by various industries. Computer Systems Design employs the largest share of Software developers at 43.8%, followed by Architectural, engineering & related services with 2.77% and Insurance carriers with 2.73%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Software developers in the US. The average age of male Software developers in the workforce is 39.2 and of female Software developers is 39.1, and the most common race/ethnicity for Software developers is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

1.16M

MALE WORKFORCE

± 26,354

256k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 12,414

81.9% of Software developers are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Software developers.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Software developers

White (Non-Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
Black (Non-Hispanic)

53.4% of Software developers are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 33.6% of Software developers, Asian (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Software developers.

Age by Sex

39.2

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 0.258

39.1

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 0.563

The median age of Software developers is 39.2, and Male employees are generally 0.154 years older than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Software developers from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Software developers is Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services but a relatively high number of Software developers hold a major in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services.