career information
Software Engineering
With a 24% expected growth rate from 2016-2026 in the United States and over $100,000
annual salary as median annual salary, software engineering is one of the top jobs
in the country. LinkedIn rates software engineering as #11 in its list of top jobs
in 2017.
Software engineering, as a discipline, is relatively young compared to many other
engineering disciplines. However, this doesn't stop it from having one of the highest
number of available jobs as well as having an enormous amount of variety.
Software engineers work on embedded systems in vehicles, airplanes, medical devices,
and even kitchen appliances. They're found in companies that produce mobile software
for iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and a host of other mobile operating
systems. Backend and full-stack Web developers must possess a strong skillset including
the ability to effectively engineer software systems to handle the massive data transmission
and processing of today. Game engineers, who are software engineers who apply software
engineering principles to game development make the exciting games and infotainment
systems that provide excitement for millions of individuals, and produce well over
$20 billion in annual revenue.
Some software engineers decide to branch out and find jobs as project and program
managers, analysts, data scientists, researchers, and a host of other exciting careers.
If you're looking for an exciting, high-salary career, then look no further. Software
engineering is where it's at.
Quick Facts: Software Developers
Job information from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- 2017 Median Pay: $103,560 per year, $49.79 per hour
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: None
- Number of Jobs, 2016: 1,256,200
- Job Outlook, 2016-26: 24% (Much faster than average)
- Employment Change, 2016-26: 302,500
