Software and Mobile Applications Development
Software and mobile applications development are two of the most dynamic, high-paying and fast growing fields in the IT industry. You may be wondering, however, which job opportunities are best and what it takes to get hired.
Software Developers
The computer systems design industry and software publishers employ the highest number of software engineers, but the highest-paid positions are spread across the country, with San Jose, California; Sioux City, Iowa; and Panama City, Florida leading the way. The Labor Department reports that software developer’s salaries can be based on numerous factors such as:
o Education
o Experience
o Skill Set
o Location
o Domain Knowledge
Labor Statistics projects a whopping 22.8 percent employment growth for software developers between 2012 and 2022, which is much faster than average for all occupations. In that period, an estimated 139,900 jobs will open up. The computer systems design industry and software publishers employ the highest number of software engineers.
Best Paying Cities for Software Developers
The highest paid in the software developer profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Jose, California, Sioux City, Iowa, and Panama City, Florida. The San Francisco area also pays well, as does the city of Baltimore.
Computer Developer
These men and women write the code that allows software programs to run. So just like a boss tells an employee what to do, a developer tells a computer what to do. Basically, they write directions in C++ and Python or another language, and the computer then follows the developer’s detailed instructions. In many cases, a developer’s work will start after a software developer or engineer passes off design specifications for a particular program. The developer’s job entails refining the ideas and solving the problems that arise while converting the program into code. Developers can also rewrite, debug, maintain and test (and retest and retest) software and programs that instruct the computer to accomplish certain tasks, such as storing or retrieving data, so the computer can perform better and more efficiently.
Between 2012 and 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for the industry, which already boasts more than 300,000 professionals, to grow 8.3 percent. The profession’s strong expected growth (as well as high median salary) helped computer developers place well in our ranking of The Best Jobs for 2015.
SALARY
The BLS reports the median annual wage for computer developers was $76,140 in 2013. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made approximately $123,490, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $43,640. The highest-paid in the profession work in the metropolitan areas of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Bethesda, Maryland; and Seattle.
Find out about growing career opportunities and how to get hired at R+L Carriers Careers/IMT.
