Software Developers
Also called: AI Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Specialist), Application Analyst, Application Architect, Application Developer, Application Engineer, Application Integration Engineer, Application Integrator, Application Programmer
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs.
What software developers do
Typical tasks
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
- Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
- Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
- Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
- Determine system performance standards.
- Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.
- Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.
- Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Software Developers salary
The median annual wage for software developers is $135,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $82,460 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $214,670. The mean annual wage is $148,100.
The mean hourly wage of $71.00 is 9.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Software Developers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $135,980 → in 3 years $146,600 → in 5 years $154,100 → in 10 years $174,600 (10-year range $150,100–$202,700). The model assumes pay growth of +2.5% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Software Developers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Software Developers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Software Developers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Software Developers United States | ソフトウェア開発（スマホアプリ） Japan | システムエンジニア（受託開発） Japan | システムエンジニア（組込み、IoT） Japan | ソフトウェア開発（パッケージソフト） Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $135,980 | ¥5.78M ≈ $36,787 | ¥5.78M ≈ $36,787 | ¥5.78M ≈ $36,787 | ¥5.78M ≈ $36,787 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $174,600 | ¥6.67M | ¥6.69M | ¥6.71M | ¥6.69M |
| Outlook score | 59 | 37 | 41 | 41 | 37 |
| AI replacement risk | 76% High | 80% High | 79% High | 78% High | 79% High |
| Workers | 1.7M | — | — | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Software Developers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become software developers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as software developers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.