How To Become a Software Developer: Career Guide

Q: How much do you get paid as a software developer?

The pay varies by experience, location, industry and employer. According to the BLS, software developers had a median annual wage of $133,080 in May 2024.

Q: How much of the job is actually spent writing code?

There is no standard percentage because the amount of time spent coding varies by role, company project and experience level. Software developers typically divide their time between writing code, testing features, debugging issues, reviewing code, documenting changes and collaborating with teammates.

Q: What methodologies do software developers use?

Software developers use methodologies that fit the project, define clear roles and requirements, break work into manageable tasks, review progress regularly and adapt based on feedback. Agile teams often use short development cycles, regular planning meetings and retrospectives, while all teams benefit from version control, code reviews, automated testing and clear documentation.

Job Description

What Is a Software Developer?

A software developer is a technology professional who designs, builds, tests and improves software for computers, mobile devices, websites, cloud platforms and business systems.

Software developers help turn user needs and business goals into functional digital products. Their work may include writing code, fixing bugs, reviewing requirements, testing features and collaborating with product managers, designers, business leaders and software engineers. Some specialize in front-end development, which focuses on what users see; back-end development, which supports functionality and data; or full-stack development, which encompasses both.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Software Developer Salary, Education and Job Outlook at a Glance

Software development careers often require a bachelor’s degree, technical programming knowledge and experience working with software systems. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field. Some software developer roles may prefer applicants with a master’s degree.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

Career Topic

What To Know

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field is typical^{(See disclaimer 2)}

Job Types

Computer programmer, software developer, software quality assurance analyst and tester, web developer and web and digital interface designer

Job Outlook

Software developer jobs are projected to grow 16% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all professions^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Salary

Median annual wage for a software developer is $133,080^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Role

What Do Software Developers Do?

Software developers help plan, build, test and maintain software applications. Their work may include reviewing user needs, designing application features, writing or refining code, testing functionality and updating software after launch.

Artificial intelligence is changing the role of software developers by automating some routine coding tasks, generating code suggestions and helping identify bugs more quickly. As a result, developers increasingly focus on designing software solutions, solving complex problems, reviewing AI-generated code and ensuring applications are secure, reliable and meet user needs.

Common software developer responsibilities include:

Plan

Review user needs, project goals and technical requirements before development begins

Develop

Build application features, write or update code and collaborate with technical teams

Test

Check software performance, identify bugs and help improve functionality before or after release

Outlook

Software Developer Salary and Job Outlook

Software development remains a growing career field because organizations rely on software to run websites, mobile apps, cloud systems, business tools and emerging technologies. As companies update digital products and build new systems, they may need developers who can create, improve and maintain software.

Jobs

1.9 Million

Projected employment of software developers by 2034^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Salary

$133,080

Median annual salary of software developers as of May 2024^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Growth

16%

Projected job growth rate for software developers from 2024 to 2034^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Workplace

Where Do Software Developers Work?

Software developers work across industries that rely on software to support operations, digital products and internal systems. According to the BLS, many software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers work in computer systems design, manufacturing or software publishing.^{(See disclaimer 5)} They often work in office settings and on teams with other developers, quality assurance analysts and testers.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Software developers work in a variety of professional settings and industries, including:^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Computer systems design

The largest employment setting for software developers, QA analysts and testers^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Software publishers

Companies that create, distribute and update software products

Manufacturing

Employers that use software for production systems, equipment and operations

Finance and insurance

Organizations that use software for transactions, data systems and digital services

Career Path

How To Become a Software Developer

To become a software developer, develop strong programming and problem-solving skills, earn relevant education, build software projects and gain experience applying development tools and practices. While a bachelor’s degree is typical for many positions, requirements and expectations vary by employer.^{(See disclaimer 2)} The steps below can help you prepare for a software development career and continue building your capabilities over time.

Pathways to a Career in Software Development:

Build a Strong Programming Foundation

Learn core concepts such as variables, data structures, algorithms and object-oriented programming using languages like Python, JavaScript, Java or C#. Build familiarity with tools such as Git, GitHub, IDEs, databases and cloud platforms.

Earn a Relevant Degree or Credential

A bachelor’s degree in software development, computer science, information technology or a related field can help you build skills in programming, software engineering, systems design and databases. Graduate education or certifications may support future specialization or leadership opportunities.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

Build Projects and Apply Professional Practices

Create projects such as a web or mobile application, an API, a database system or a cloud-based solution. Use them to practice writing and reviewing code, testing functionality, debugging, using version control, documenting decisions and working within development methods such as Agile or Scrum.

Create a Portfolio and Demonstrate Your Skills

Maintain a portfolio that explains each project’s purpose, technologies, development process and results. Be prepared to discuss technical decisions, solve coding problems and explain how you approach testing, security, performance and maintainability when pursuing software development opportunities.

Education

What Degree Do You Need To Become a Software Developer?

According to Indeed, although there are no universally applicable requirements, software development professionals typically have a degree in a related area, such as software development, computer science or information technology (IT). Software engineering, data science and mathematics are other options.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

Students pursuing these degrees often develop skills in widely used programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML, SQL and Python, which are among the most commonly used languages by software developers globally.^{(See disclaimer 7)}

Software Development Degrees and Programs at GCU

7 Matching Degrees

Skills

What Skills Do Software Developers Need?

Software developers need a mix of technical and workplace skills. Technical skills may include programming languages, software design, testing and debugging, while workplace skills help developers evaluate requirements, solve issues and collaborate with others.^{(See disclaimer 2,6)}

Important soft skills used in software development include:^{(See disclaimer 2)}

Problem-Solving Skills

Helps developers work through coding issues, design challenges and software errors

Analytical Skills

Supports evaluating user needs, technical requirements and possible software solutions

Attention to Detail

Helps when reviewing code, testing features and identifying bugs

Communication

Supports collaboration with teammates, stakeholders and technical contributors

Software Developers vs. Software Engineers

Explore the differences between software developers and software engineers and discover which career path is right for you.

Compare Software Developers vs. Software Engineers

FAQ

Software Developer Frequently Asked Questions

Get direct answers to common software developer career questions, including pay, coding time, collaboration, development methods, tools and programming languages.

How much do you get paid as a software developer?

How much of the job is actually spent writing code?

How much do software developers work with clients, managers or other teams?

Collaboration is a regular part of most software development roles, although the amount varies by company, team structure and job level. Many developers work with managers, designers, QA professionals and other technical teams throughout the development lifecycle. Some roles also involve frequent communication with clients or stakeholders to clarify requirements, review progress and discuss project goals.

What methodologies do software developers use?

What tools and technologies are commonly used in software development?

Common software development tools include Git and GitHub for version control, Visual Studio Code for writing code, Docker for containerization, Jira for project management, Postman for API testing and AWS for cloud services. Developers also use programming languages, testing frameworks and databases suited to their work. The exact technology stack varies by employer, project and product requirements.

What programming languages are best for software development?

There is no single best programming language for every software development role. The right choice depends on what you are building: Python is commonly used for automation, data science and back-end development; JavaScript for websites and web applications; Java and C# for enterprise software; and SQL for working with databases. Employers and project requirements often determine which languages developers use.

Career Fit

Is Software Development Right for You?

Software development can be a rewarding career path for individuals who enjoy combining technology, logic and problem-solving. Because software developers design, build, test and improve digital products, this field may be well-suited for people who are detail-oriented, adaptable and comfortable learning new programming languages, tools and development practices over time.

Software development may be a good fit if you:

Enjoy solving technical problems and finding practical solutions
Are interested in how applications, websites and digital systems are built
Like working with code, data and software development tools
Work well independently and as part of a technical team
Are comfortable testing, debugging and improving your work
Want a career that can apply across industries such as technology, finance, healthcare, retail and manufacturing
Are willing to keep learning as programming languages and technologies evolve

Software development may not be the best fit if you:

Prefer work that does not involve frequent troubleshooting or debugging
Are not interested in coding, software systems or technical problem-solving
Dislike reviewing detailed requirements or testing software functionality
Prefer a career with less screen time or fewer detail-oriented tasks
Are uncomfortable adapting to changing tools, technologies and development practices

Take a closer look at these related articles to compare technology pathways, understand similar roles and gather additional insight as you explore software development careers.

What Is a Technology Degree?

What is a technology degree? Learn the types of technical degrees you can earn at GCU to pursue a career in this exciting industry.

02/11/2020

|

7 min read

Software Developer vs. Software Engineer: What’s the Difference?

What’s the difference between a software developer vs. software engineer? Learn how the roles compare and which career may be right for you in this GCU blog.

11/20/2024

|

5 min read

Computer Programmer vs. Software Developer: What’s the Difference?

12/16/2020

|