Software developers, applications & systems software

Detailed Occupation

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2017 Workforce

1.19M

Average Age

39.9

Average Salary

$104,838

Average Male Salary

$109,043

Average Female Salary

$87,907

About

Software developers, applications & systems software are most often employed by the Computer Systems Design industry. The average yearly wage for Software developers, applications & systems software was $104,838 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Software developers, applications & systems software by wage are Natural sciences managers, Astronomers & physicists, and Aerospace engineers.

Software developers, applications & systems software 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, applications & systems software are Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA, Fremont City (East) PUMA, CA, and Mountain View, Palo Alto & Los Altos Cities PUMA, CA. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Software developers, applications & systems software are Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA, Redmond, Kirkland Cities, Inglewood & Finn Hill PUMA, WA, and San Jose (Northwest) & Santa Clara Cities PUMA, CA.

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Software developers, applications & systems software and on wages and locations for those in the field. Computer Systems Design is the industry that employs the most Software developers, applications & systems software, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Software developers, applications & systems software, by average wage, is Video tape & disk rental. Software developers, applications & systems software are paid most in Hibbing & Cloquet Cities PUMA, MN but are relatively concentrated in Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA.

Yearly Wage

$104,838

AVERAGE SALARY

± $1,453

In 2017, Software developers, applications & systems software earned an average of $104,838, $48,884 more than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Natural sciences managers make somewhat more than Software developers, applications & systems software while Astronomers & physicists make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Software developers, applications & systems software as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.275

WAGE GINI

In 2015, Software developers, applications & systems software had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.275, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Software developers, applications & systems software (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, applications & systems software.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Software developers, applications & systems software

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

Most Common

The most common industries employing Software developers, applications & systems software, by number of employees, are Computer Systems Design, Insurance carriers & related activities, Architectural, engineering & related services, Electronic component & product manufacturing, n.e.c. , Software publishing, Banking & related activities, Management, scientific & technical consulting services, Securities, commodities, funds, trusts & other financial investments, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals, and Scientific research & development services.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Software developers, applications & systems software, by average wage, are Video tape & disk rental, Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals, and Taxi & limousine service.

Industries by Share

1.19M

2017 Workforce

± 26,621

6.99%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 3.02%

The number of people employed as Software developers, applications & systems software has been growing at a rate of 6.99%, from 1,108,062 people in 2016 to 1,185,536 people in 2017.

This graphic shows the share of Software developers, applications & systems software employed by various industries. Computer Systems Design employs the largest share of Software developers, applications & systems software at 42.5%, followed by Insurance carriers & related activities with 3.15% and Architectural, engineering & related services with 2.83%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Software developers, applications & systems software in the US. The average age of male Software developers, applications & systems software in the workforce is 39.7 and of female Software developers, applications & systems software is 40.8, and the most common race/ethnicity for Software developers, applications & systems software is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

950k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 23,846

236k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 11,914

80.1% of Software developers, applications & systems software are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Software developers, applications & systems software.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Software developers, applications & systems software

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

56.4% of Software developers, applications & systems software are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 32% of Software developers, applications & systems software, 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, applications & systems software.

Age by Sex

39.7

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 0.28

40.8

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 0.577

The median age of Software developers, applications & systems software is 39.9, and Male employees are generally 1.08 years younger than than their Female counterparts.

Education

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