Software Developers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$135,980
United States, 2025
Employment
1,687,890
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 15-1252.00
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years
Typical tasks
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
- Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
- Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
- Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$82,460
25th percentile
$105,210
75th percentile
$171,980
90th percentile
$214,670
Most important skills
- Programming4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Systems Analysis3.5
- Active Learning3.5
- Active Listening3.4
- Technology Design3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.4
- Operations Analysis3.3
- Writing3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 16 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
16
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.5 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Technology Design | 3.4 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Speaking | 3.1 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Time Management | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Programming | 4.0 | — | Not selected | — |
| Operations Analysis | 3.3 | — | Not selected | — |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Software DevelopersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $213,110 | 87,350 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $186,640 | 69,030 | 2025 |
| CA | $174,410 | 284,390 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $167,280 | 92,770 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $166,830 | 121,000 | 2025 |
| WA | $166,540 | 107,030 | 2025 |
| NY | $166,180 | 113,510 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $166,090 | 42,310 | 2025 |
| MA | $165,210 | 48,190 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | $164,560 | 7,130 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $163,270 | 20,610 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | 3,090 | 2025 |
| Manchester, NH | $162,090 | 4,370 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $160,920 | 55,540 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | $159,430 | 2,170 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $158,290 | 1,680 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $156,910 | 540 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $156,000 | 18,260 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $154,930 | 69,060 | 2025 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $154,860 | 280 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Software Developers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.