what is developer ?
A developer is an individual who is responsible for creating or working on the development of a product or service. Most developers utilize one or more programming languages to develop their product or service. They may work alone or on a team, and may develop part of or all a product or service. Companies like Microsoft and Oracle employ many developers, due to the complexity of the products and services they develop and sell to customers.
For example, a software developer is an individual that may create a new software program or maintain an existing software program. A web developer is an individual that creates or updates web pages, utilizing HTML, JavaScript, or other web programming languages.
In a nutshell, the basic difference between a developer and a programmer is the scope of their work. Developers are more involved with and have a greater understanding of the full project scope. Programmers are involved in a specific part of the project — coding.
- Mathematical aptitude.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Programming languages (different types of developer role require different languages)
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Accuracy and attention to deta
Top technical skills for software developers
In such a complex role, these professionals inevitably need to have some precise technical know-how. We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 1 million software developer jobs posted over the past year.2 This data revealed the top technical skills employers are looking for:
- Java®
- SQL
- Software engineering
- JavaScript®
- Python®
- Microsoft® C#
- Linux
- Git
- Oracle
- DevOps
Top transferable skills for software developers
Mastering the skills above is only half of the equation. The best software developers have certain transferable skills to complement their technical knowledge.
1. Problem-solving ability
The whole point of developing software is to create programs that solve the user’s problem. If you’re the type who tends to identify issues and figure out the best way to approach a solution, you may be a perfect fit for a software development career. Not only that, but programming alone is often an exercise in problem-solving and troubleshooting—being able to patiently and strategically tackle potential bugs or issues in code is a big part of their work.
2. Teamwork
Contrary to what’s commonly assumed, software developers aren’t secluded at their desk with no contact with the outside world. In reality, they spend a lot of time teaming up with other developers and programmers to create a prime product for the user. Great communication, empathy and a knack for collaborating with others is a must.
3. Analytical and strategic
Coding and software are enigmas of a sort, and if you’re someone who likes solving a mystery by looking at the big picture as well as the smaller steps along the way, you’ll be right at home developing software. There’s a lot of thoughtful planning that goes into creating these types of programs. If you can figure out the fastest or most efficient path from point A to point B, the world of software development will welcome you with open arms.
4. Intrinsic motivation
Creating software can be tricky, tedious work, so it’s important that you don’t get bogged down or discouraged when you don’t succeed the first time you try something. If you’re the type of person who is naturally determined to finish everything you start, you’ll be well-suited for a career in software development.
Where do software developers work?
Job opportunities for software developers are vast and varied. Application software developers held just over 944,200 jobs in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).3 There were about 421,300 positions for systems software developers in that same year, equating to more than 1.3 million opportunities for software developers.3
So where are these opportunities, exactly? The skills of software developers are needed in a variety of industries.
Top fields for application software developers.
- Computer systems design and related services
- Finance and insurance
- Software publishers
- Manufacturing
- Management of companies and enterprises
Top fields for system software developers.
- Computer systems design and related services
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Software publishers
- Engineering services
As you can see, a variety of industries rely on the skills of software developers. There are also several options when it comes to the work environment, as well as the type of work a software developer may end up doing. Many work in a traditional office environment, but there is also opportunity to work in agency settings or to telecommute. This variety allows you to tailor your career to fit your personal preferences.
What is the typical software developer salary?
In today’s digital economy, virtually everything is revolved around technology. This means qualified software developers are a hot commodity.
The BLS projects careers for application software developers to grow 26 percent through 2026, which is more than five times the national average for all occupations.3 This is largely due to the growing desire for businesses to produce new mobile device applications.
The outlook for systems software developers isn’t quite as favorable, but it is still projected at the faster-than-average rate of 10 percent.3 Although this type of work isn’t as prevalent, it does typically come with higher compensation.
Application software developer salary
The median annual salary for application software developers in 2018 was $103,620, as reported by the BLS.3 The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,660 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $161,290. Some of the top-earning application software developers were employed at software publishing companies.3
Systems software developer salary
The median annual salary for systems software developers in 2018 was $110,000, as reported by the BLS. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $66,740 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $166,960. Systems software developers employed at manufacturing companies tend to have higher earning potential.3
Create your career in software development
The future is bright for software developers of all kinds. Now that you’ve had a closer look at this critical role, you can better discern if you’re programmed to work in software development.
If you’re ready to start developing your career in this field, start planning your next steps by reading our article.
12 Interesting Facts About Software Developers
Software engineers are excellent problem solvers who enjoy thinking outside the box and working in a dynamic world. Sounds interesting? That is only the start because, in this article, we will be exploring some interesting facts about software developers.
Without further ado, let’s explore these amazing and lesser-known facts about software professionals.
1. The world’s first programmer was a woman
Ada Lovelace, born in the year 1815, was the world’s first programmer. She started to work on the analytical engine in the early 18th century. She has developed the first computer program, a century before the first computer was created.
She was an English mathematician and writer, best known for her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer.
Ada Lovelace was the first to recognize that people could use the computer for more than just calculations, and she published the first algorithm designed for such a machine. As a consequence, she is often referred to as the world’s first computer programmer.
2. ‘Web developer’ is the most preferred job title
This may seem like a no-brainer, but any IT recruiter will tell you that there are various synonyms for the same job: full-stack developer, programmer, architect, analyst, and so on.
According to a survey, various web developers were asked what job title they would prefer most. They were asked to choose among the job titles like Engineers, Developers, Programmers, Senior Developers, and Full-Stack Developers. With 72.6 % of the vote, the title “Web Developer” was the most common choice.
3. The average age is relatively less, as compared to other professions
Next in our list of facts about software developers is their average age. In the United States, the average age of an actively licensed physician is about 52 years old. However, a developer in the United States is on an average 32 years old.
So we see that the area of software development is a young person’s game. The typical developer has less than five years of experience, and three-quarters have less than ten years.
4. Developers learn in a variety of ways
Although 43% of developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar field, 69% claim to be partially self-taught.
The variety of educational pathways available to developers is genuinely fascinating. Some people learn in school, online, on the job, or by a combination of these methods.
5. Average experience
The majority of the developers have two to five years of experience in this field. This is typically the level of expertise held by most mid-level developers who regularly work on heavy development projects.
Full-Stack Developers have an average experience between 6 to 10, and Engineering Managers have 11+ years of experience.
6. Men take up the bulk of developer jobs
Another fact about software developers is that men continue to make up the bulk of developers, accounting for 88.6% of the workforce.
However, this figure is slightly lower than that of a 2016 study, in which men accounted for nearly 92 % of the developer workforce.
This gender difference is partly because computer science and development jobs are prominently marketed to male students.
At colleges, this pattern is shifting, and women should expect to close the gender gap soon.
7. You Have the Choice to Live in a Variety of Cities
When you think of software development, you probably think of Silicon Valley, but the top location for software-related jobs in New York City has over 54,000 software engineers.
However, since most of the top cities employing software engineers are on the coast, a career in software engineering might not be for you if you plan to live further inland.
8. The pay is excellent
It should not come as a surprise that software engineers earn a lot of money. It is so because of the high demand for their services.
The average starting salary for a software engineer is $75,275. If you gain experience, your income will grow. On the other hand, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a software engineer is $100,690.
9. Developers in the gaming industry are the happiest
One of the most exciting facts about software developers is that the software developers employed in the Software Gaming industry are the sunniest.
In other words, we can say that the Gaming industry does a better job of keeping them satisfied than industries like telecommunications and government, which rank last in terms of a developer’s job satisfaction.
10. Software developers spend more time learning as compared to others
Software engineers have a higher rate of learning than other professions. This makes sense because, while change is rapid in all industries, it is swift in the ever-changing field of technology.
Software developers reported learning a new skill 48 % of the time, compared to 36 % of all professionals. They often spend more time on LinkedIn, with 45 % having recently updated their profile, compared to 32 % of the general population.
11. Software developers are paid the most in San Francisco and least in Detroit
Continuing with our list of facts about software developers, we move on to the following fact, about their employment’s geographical location. Geographical location has a significant impact on software engineers’ compensation.
Software engineers earn a median wage of $142,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area and $88,0000 in Detroit. Of course, the cost of living differs significantly between these areas.
Seattle is considered ideal for software developers as it has a high median wage of $132,000 per year and a lower cost of living than the San Francisco area. And that is the reason it is also the country’s fastest-growing area for software engineers.
12. Most in-demand software engineers are the ones who specialize in Machine Learning and Data Science
Software developers receive three times more InMails from recruiters as compared to the average professional on LinkedIn. And specialties like machine learning and data science seem to attract even more attention, making it even easier to find work.
Parting Words
With this, we sum up our list of 12 interesting facts about software developers. This article will help you understand the latest demand for software engineering jobs and understand some lesser-known facts of professionals.
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