Software developers

Detailed Occupation

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2021 Workforce

1.57M

Average Age

39.3

Average Salary

$128,818

Average Male Salary

$133,076

Average Female Salary

$109,400

About

Software developers are most often employed by the Computer Systems Design industry. The average yearly wage for Software developers was $128,818 in 2021.

The locations that employ the most Software developers are Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA, San Jose (Northwest) & Santa Clara Cities PUMA, CA, and Queen Anne & Magnolia PUMA, WA. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Software developers are Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA, Greater Bellevue City PUMA, WA, and San Jose (Northwest) & Santa Clara Cities PUMA, CA.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Computer & mathematical occupations Computer, engineering, & science occupations

Employment and salary information for the Software developers workforce. Software developers workforce in 2021 was 1,568,229 people, of which 18% were women and 82% were men. Software developers are paid most in Fresno City (East Central) PUMA, CA but are relatively concentrated in Sunnyvale & San Jose (North) Cities PUMA, CA.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

1,286,213

Male Workforce

± 27.7k

282,016

Female Workforce

± 13k

The Software developers workforce in 2021 was 1,568,229 people (18% women and 82% men). This implies an average annual growth of 36.7% between 2018 (1,147,597) and 2021 (1,568,229).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Software developers.

During 2021, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were Washington ($172,201), California ($166,518), and New York ($144,716).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$128,818

AVERAGE WAGE

#18 in the ranking (2021)

$59,596

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2021, Software developers earned an average of $128,818, $69,223 more than the average national salary of $59,596

The graph shows the ranking of Software developers in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2021.

Wage Distribution

Gender

0.304

WAGE GINI

In 2021, Software developers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.304, which is lower than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Software developers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Software developers compared to the entire workforce in the country.

Industry

Information on the industries that employ Software developers and on wages for those in the field. Computer Systems Design is the industry that employs the most Software developers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Software developers, by average wage, is Other consumer goods rental ($334,099).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

1.57M

2021 Workforce

± 30,584

10.6%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 2.56%

This graphic shows the share of Software developers employed by various industries. Computer Systems Design employs the largest share of Software developers at 88.8%, followed by Insurance carriers with 5.7% and Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals with 5.54%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Software developers in the US. The workforce of Software developers in 2021 was 1,568,229 people, with 18% woman, and 82% men. The average age of male Software developers in the workforce is 39.4 and of female Software developers is 38.8, and the most common race/ethnicity for Software developers is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Software developers in 2021 was 1,568,229 people, with 18% woman, and 82% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 30 to 34 years (280,666 people), 25 to 29 years (251,789 people), and 35 to 39 years (249,625 people). Among them they concentrated 49.9% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2021, 6.34% of Software developers workers were Hispanic and 93.7% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (69.5%), Puerto Rican (18.5)%, and Cuban (12)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2021, 55.7% of the Software developers workforce were White, of which 14% were women and 86% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Asian (33.7%) and Two or More Races (4.69%).

Education & Skills

Data on higher education choices for Software developers from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Software developers is Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services but the most specialized major according to RCA in 2021 were Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

Type of Majors

Degree

The most common majors achieved by Software developers in 2021 (counting all academic degrees) were Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (483,356 people), Engineering (390,842 people), and Business (116,390 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Software developers workers were Bachelors Degree (813,090 people), Graduate Degree (532,510 people), and Some college (117,168 people).

The graphic shows the Software developers workforce by gender and educational level.