Software developers

Detailed Occupation

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2024 Workforce

2.02M

Average Age

39.1

Estimated Job Growth

15.8%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$154,076

Average Male Salary

$158,910

Average Female Salary

$132,900

About

Software developers are most often employed by the Computer Systems Design industry. The average yearly wage for Software developers was $154,076 in 2024.

The locations that employ the most Software developers are Santa Clara County (Northwest)--Sunnyvale City PUMA, CA, King County (Northwest)--Redmond, Kirkland Cities, Ingelwood & Finn Hill PUMA, WA, and King County (Northwest Central)--Greater Bellevue City PUMA, WA. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Software developers are Santa Clara County (Northwest)--Sunnyvale City PUMA, CA, Seattle City (Lake Union-Downtown) PUMA, WA, and King County (Northwest Central)--Greater Bellevue City PUMA, WA.

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

Employment

Employment and salary information for the Software developers workforce. Software developers workforce in 2024 was 2,019,249 people, of which 18.6% were women and 81.4% were men. Software developers are paid most in San Mateo County (Southeast)--Menlo Park, East Palo Alto Cities & Atherton Town PUMA, CA but are relatively concentrated in Santa Clara County (Northwest)--Sunnyvale City PUMA, CA.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

1,644,006

Male Workforce

± 31.3k

375,243

Female Workforce

± 15k

The Software developers workforce in 2024 was 2,019,249 people (18.6% women and 81.4% men). This implies an average annual growth of 75.8% between 2018 (1,148,560) and 2024 (2,019,249).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Software developers.

During 2024, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were Washington ($210,937), California ($206,172), and New York ($176,627).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$154,076

AVERAGE WAGE

#19 in the ranking (2018)

$69,878

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2024, Software developers earned an average of $154,076, $84,199 more than the average national salary of $69,878

The graph shows the ranking of Software developers in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2018.

In 2024, Software developers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.308, which is lower than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Software developers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Software developers compared to the entire workforce in the country.

Industry

Information on the industries that employ Software developers and on wages 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 ($359,999).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

2.02M

2024 Workforce

± 34,660

6.8%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 2.31%

This graphic shows the share of Software developers employed by various industries. Computer Systems Design employs the largest share of Software developers at 84.4%, followed by Banking & related activities with 5.44% and Insurance carriers with 5.14%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Software developers in the US. The workforce of Software developers in 2024 was 2,019,249 people, with 18.6% woman, and 81.4% men. The average age of male Software developers in the workforce is 39.3 and of female Software developers is 38.3, and the most common race/ethnicity for Software developers is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Software developers in 2024 was 2,019,249 people, with 18.6% woman, and 81.4% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 30 to 34 years (371,353 people), 25 to 29 years (330,512 people), and 35 to 39 years (317,361 people). Among them they concentrated 50.5% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2024, 7.55% of Software developers workers were Hispanic and 92.5% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (42.6%), Puerto Rican (11.3)%, and All Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino (6.55)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2024, 51.6% of the Software developers workforce were White, of which 14.4% were women and 85.6% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Asian (33.6%) and Two or More Races (7.49%).

Education & Skills

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 the most specialized major according to RCA in 2024 were Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

Type of Majors

Degree

The most common majors achieved by Software developers in 2024 (counting all academic degrees) were Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (628,261 people), Engineering (484,509 people), and Business (155,971 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Software developers workers were Bachelors Degree (1,065,270 people), Graduate Degree (664,269 people), and Some college (149,463 people).

The graphic shows the Software developers workforce by gender and educational level.

Projections

Projections on job growth for Software Developers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.07%, but Software Developers are expected to see a growth of 15.8% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

15.8%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.07%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Software developers. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.07%, the average rate of national job growth.