Computer programmers

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2019 Workforce

327k

Average Age

43.5

Average Salary

$88,317

Average Male Salary

$91,208

Average Female Salary

$77,540

About

Computer programmers are most often employed by the Computer Systems Design industry. The average yearly wage for Computer programmers was $88,317 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Computer programmers by wage are Construction managers, Budget analysts, and Materials engineers.

Computer programmers 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 Computer programmers are Dallas (North), Plano (South) & Richardson (North) Cities PUMA, TX, Plymouth, Maple Grove (West) & Medicine Lake Cities PUMA, MN, and Sunset District (North) PUMA, CA. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Computer programmers are Dallas (North), Plano (South) & Richardson (North) Cities PUMA, TX, Brighton Beach & Coney Island PUMA, NY, and Plymouth, Maple Grove (West) & Medicine Lake Cities PUMA, MN.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Computer & mathematical occupations Computer, engineering, & science occupations

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Computer programmers and on wages and locations for those in the field. Computer Systems Design is the industry that employs the most Computer programmers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Computer programmers, by average wage, is Nondepository credit & related activities. Computer programmers are paid most in Cupertino, Saratoga Cities & Los Gatos Town PUMA, CA but are relatively concentrated in Dallas (North), Plano (South) & Richardson (North) Cities PUMA, TX.

Wages

Yearly Wage

$88,317

AVERAGE SALARY

± $2,551

In 2019, Computer programmers earned an average of $88,317, $32,793 more than than the average national salary of $55,524.

Materials engineers make somewhat more than Computer programmers while Construction managers make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Computer programmers as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.315

WAGE GINI

In 2019, Computer programmers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.315, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Computer programmers (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 Computer programmers.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Computer programmers

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

Industries

Most Common

The most common industries employing Computer programmers, by number of employees, are Computer Systems Design, Insurance carriers, and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Computer programmers, by average wage, are Aluminum production & processing, Other information services, except libraries & archives, & internet publishing & broadcasting & web search portals, Petroleum refining, Nondepository credit & related activities, Electronic shopping and mail-order houses, and Securities, commodities, funds, trusts & other financial investments.

Industries by Share

327k

2019 Workforce

± 14,028

-22.1%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 7.34%

The number of people employed as Computer programmers has been declining at a rate of -22.1%, from 420,229 people in 2018 to 327,168 people in 2019.

This graphic shows the share of Computer programmers employed by various industries. Computer Systems Design employs the largest share of Computer programmers at 29.3%, followed by Insurance carriers with 5.61% and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges with 4.62%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Computer programmers in the US. The average age of male Computer programmers in the workforce is 43.2 and of female Computer programmers is 44.7, and the most common race/ethnicity for Computer programmers is White (Non-Hispanic).

Gender Composition

258k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 12,459

69.2k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 6,457

78.9% of Computer programmers are Male, making them the more common gender in the occupation. This chart shows the gender breakdown of Computer programmers.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Computer programmers

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

65% of Computer programmers are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 19.7% of Computer programmers, Asian (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Computer programmers.

Age by Gender

43.2

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 0.646

44.7

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 1.22

The median age of Computer programmers is 43.5, and Male employees are generally 1.52 years younger than than their Female counterparts.

Education

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