What Does a Software Developer Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a software developer do?

Software developers design, write, test and maintain software applications and systems, from mobile apps and websites to business platforms and embedded software. The median pay is $135,980 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4 years or bootcamp plus portfolio, and employment is projected to grow +10.2% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$135,980
$65.38/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+10.2%
2025–35, much faster than average
Openings per year
95,300
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
4 years or bootcamp plus portfolio
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
1,717,800
Employment, 2025

What software developers do

Software developers turn ideas into working software. They gather requirements, design features, write code, test and debug, review teammates’ code and deploy updates. Some build user-facing apps; others build back-end services, data pipelines, operating systems or software for devices. Most work on teams using agile methods and version control.

Many developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but bootcamp graduates and self-taught programmers with strong portfolios are also hired. The field pays well and offers remote work, though entry-level hiring is competitive and continuous learning is essential.

Typical duties

Gather requirements and design software features
Write clean, maintainable code
Write and run automated tests
Debug and fix defects
Review code and collaborate in version control
Deploy and monitor applications
Document systems and improve performance

Work environment and schedule

Developers work in offices or remotely, mostly at computers, collaborating through chat, video and code review tools.

Schedule: Most work full-time with flexible hours. Some teams have on-call rotations for production issues.

A day in the life

9:00 AMJoin the team’s daily stand-up and share progress and blockers.
9:30 AMPick up a ticket for a new checkout feature and plan the changes.
11:00 AMWrite code and unit tests for the new API endpoint.
1:00 PMReview a teammate’s pull request and leave comments.

See a full day in the life of a software developer →

Software Developer salary

Half of software developers earned more than $135,980 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $82,460 for the lowest 10% to $214,670 for the top 10%.

$82,46010th$135,980Median$214,67090th

Full software developer pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a software developer

Learn to code
Get formal training
Build a portfolio
Land an internship or junior role
Advance

Most developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Coding bootcamps, associate degrees and self-study with a strong portfolio can also lead to jobs.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a software developer →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Programming languages such as Python, JavaScript or Java
Data structures and algorithms
Version control with Git
Testing and debugging
Databases and APIs

People skills

Problem solving
Collaboration
Communication
Curiosity

All software developer skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

High pay and strong demand
Remote and flexible options
Creative problem solving
Many specialties to choose from

Cons

Competitive entry-level market
Constant learning required
Long screen time
On-call and deadline pressure at times

Certifications and licenses

AWS Certified Developer – Associate: Cloud development certification.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate: Azure development certification.
Oracle Certified Professional: Java: Java programming credential.
GitHub Foundations: Certification on Git and collaboration.

Career path

Junior Developer: Build features with guidance.
Software Developer: Own features and systems.
Senior Developer or Tech Lead: Lead design and mentor others.
Architect or Engineering Manager: Shape systems or lead teams.

Learn the job before day one

Our Software Developer training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as fix a bug systematically and open a good pull request, safety and how to land your first job.

View Software Developer training Is this career right for me?

Web Developer

Build fast, accessible websites and web applications people love to use.

$92,650
6 months to 4 years

Software QA Tester

Find bugs before users do by testing software thoroughly.

$104,300
6 months–4 years

Data Scientist

Turn data into insights and predictions that guide decisions.

$120,230
4–6 years

Computer Systems Analyst

Bridge business needs and technology by designing better computer systems.

$105,850
4 years

Compare: Software Developer vs. Web Developer · Software Developer vs. QA Tester · Software Developer vs. Data Scientist · Software Developer vs. Computer Systems Analyst

Software Developer FAQ

Do software developers need a degree?

Many do, but bootcamp and self-taught developers with strong portfolios also get hired.

Which language should I learn first?

Python and JavaScript are common starting points.

Is software development remote-friendly?

Yes. Many teams work remotely or hybrid.

How much does a software developer make?

The median annual wage for software developers was $135,980 ($65.38 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $82,460 and the highest 10% earned more than $214,670.

How long does it take to become a software developer?

Most people need about 4 years or bootcamp plus portfolio of training. Most developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Coding bootcamps, associate degrees and self-study with a strong portfolio can also lead to jobs.

Do you need a degree to be a software developer?

Not always. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, but many developers are hired from bootcamps or self-taught paths when they can show strong projects, open-source work or internships.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 15-1252 (Software developers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Software developers (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Software Developer