5 Reasons to Start a Career in Software Development
1. It can bring a high salary
If a high salary is the only reason you do any work, this is the right place for you.
Software developers have a high demand and earn incredible salaries from entry level up and the amount increases with experience and successful projects. The salary figures can vary from country to country, but if have the option to work for companies in other countries too.
Some salaries from US companies, from Entry Level to Higher pay:
Apple: US$154,259 to US$2,160,000
Amazon: US$168,349 to US1,280,000
Google: US$179,791 to US$1,149,000
Meta: US$179,734 to US$1,175,000
I got the salaries from the levels.fyi.
2. High demand
Software developers have high demand.
Practically every industry needs its own type of software and people who can create it to their specifications. We had a boom during Covid times, that pushed many companies to be digital and tech companies hired a lot. As I write this we have many tech companies doing layoffs.
That does not change the fact that as the world becomes increasingly digital and operated online, the need for software developers is likely to rise even further. If you’re looking for a career that has a good long-term outlook, software development is an appealing option.
3. Software developers can often work remotely
The days of getting up and commuting to work are long gone for many.
Most people can now work entirely on computers. We have many companies that are fully remote or allow remote work.
There are exceptions and few engineers will be required to the office depending on what they do for the company.
4. Career options
When you become a software developer, there are many career options available to you.
For instance, you can decide to work either as an independent contractor or within a larger company. Having this option allows you to choose a work environment and lifestyle that fits your requirements.
You also can work in a wide range of industries, and there’s typically room for advancement within software development.
After starting as an entry-level programmer, software developers can choose between two paths:
- Stay on the technical path and advance into senior programming positions.
- Move into management positions where they oversee the development process rather than spending their time coding.
For some of the management positions, it’s possible to still be coding and participating in the development process.
Software developers typically work in a variety of roles, including but not limited to:
- Application developer: responsible for developing, testing, and maintaining software applications.
- Systems developer: responsible for designing and implementing the infrastructure for software systems.
- Web developer: responsible for developing and maintaining websites and web applications.
- Mobile developer: responsible for developing and maintaining mobile apps.
- Game developer: responsible for developing and maintaining video games.
- Data scientist: responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large datasets to extract useful information.
- DevOps Engineer: responsible for the management of software development, testing, and deployment processes.
- Cloud developer: responsible for developing, deploying, and maintaining software on cloud computing platforms.
These roles may overlap and often require a combination of skills. Developers may also specialize in specific programming languages or technologies.
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
― Mark Twain
5. Job satisfaction
Firstly, the satisfaction of creating code is unmatched.
Unlike some other jobs, you have the possibility to create code as part of your job and impact the lives of thousands of users.
It’s often easy to see the results of your contributions, whether it’s a website that you are designing or creating a new AI model, the results are generally clear.
Are you excited about technology and wanted to be part of it? If that’s the case you could consider Software development.
No matter what the reason, if you have been thinking about a career in tech, with the growth of technology, the possibilities in this field are endless.
How to start
Here are several ways to start a career in software development, and the specific path you choose may depend on your background and experience. Some possible steps to take include:
- Education: A formal education in computer science or a related field can be beneficial, but it is not always necessary. Many software developers have degrees in fields such as mathematics, physics, or engineering.
- Learn to code: There are many resources available to help you learn to code, including online tutorials, coding bootcamps, and college classes. Some popular programming languages to learn: are Python, Java, JavaScript, C# and PHP.
- Gain experience: Developing software is a practical skill, so gaining experience is important. This can be done through internships, personal projects, or open-source contributions.
- Networking: Building connections in the software development industry is also important. Joining online communities, attending meetups and conferences, and participating in hackathons can help you learn from more experienced developers and make connections that can lead to job opportunities.
- Certifications: Many software development certifications are available, such as Oracle, Microsoft, and AWS, and they can help you demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
It’s important to note that software development is a constantly evolving field, so staying up-to-date with new technologies and trends is crucial for success.
Online resources such as Codecademy, Coursera, Udemy, edX, and freeCodeCamp are great places to start learning how to code, and GitHub is a great place to find open-source projects to contribute to and learn from.
Anyone can program and learn how to code.
It’s up to you to keep learning and decide to try a career in this area.
It’s not an easy path and because of that, I am planning to invest some of my time to find ways to help people that are interested to do the next step to continue growing to the point they can have a job in IT.
Thanks for reading until here and see you next.
