How to Become a Software Developer
Design, develop, and test software applications and systems. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $135,980 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$135,980/yr
Middle half
$105,210 to $171,980
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
115,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Programming
- Software Development
- Problem Solving
- Systems Analysis
- Database Management
Helpful certifications
- AWS Certified Developer
- Google Cloud Professional
- Microsoft Azure Developer
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
88/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
35/100
Satisfaction
78/100
Related careers
- Product Manager$166,790 median
- DevOps Engineer$135,980 median
- Cybersecurity Analyst$129,180 median
- Data Scientist$120,230 median
- IT Project Manager$116,580 median
- Site Reliability Engineer$116,580 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Software Developer make?
The median pay for a Software Developer is $135,980 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $105,210 and $171,980 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Software Developer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, and Computer Engineering.
Is Software Developer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 115,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Software Developer use most?
Common skills for this role are Programming, Software Development, Problem Solving, Systems Analysis, and Database Management.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).