Why Should I Become a Software Developer?
Key Takeaways
Software development offers exceptional career prospects with high demand, competitive compensation, and job growth projected at 31% over the next decade. The field combines financial reward, professional opportunities across diverse industries, and personal fulfillment in creating technology used worldwide.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 31% job growth for software developers over the next decade
- Median annual salary for developers exceeds $93,350 or nearly $45 per hour at entry level
- Massive talent shortage exists with companies struggling to find qualified software development candidates
- Career opportunities span virtually every industry as companies integrate innovative software in products
- High personal fulfillment comes from developing programs used by family, friends, and millions globally
What Does a Software Developer Do?
Given just how tech-centric our everyday lives are, a better question might be – what doesn’t a software developer do? From your favorite games, word processing software, and apps, software developers have a huge hand in every aspect of them. Moreover, the world’s leading companies often gain and maintain their market dominance by employing innovative software in the product development process. As a result, the range of companies and industries that can hire you as a software developer is vast. Opportunities abound in a number of fields:
- the healthcare field depends largely on the efforts of doctors and the machines they use – which requires software to facilitate diagnoses, financial information, medicine dosages, and more
- the financial sector is almost wholly software-driven; the programs to keep track of accounts and company networks are becoming more involved
- video game consoles and computer gaming rigs are selling like never before – every aspect of this industry is software-driven; even down to the hardware
- legal services are highly software-dependent
How Much Does a Software Developer Make?
Given the breakneck pace of mobile development, tablet devices outselling desktop computers, the explosive increase in online apps and more relating to computers, it’s clear that software development skills will be at a premium for a long time to come. When skills are in demand, it means wages are competitive. In 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics determined that the national median pay per year for software developers was $93,350.00. That’s almost $45 an hour, and for a field where just a bachelor’s degree is needed for the entry-level position.
Using Your Creative Mind
If you’ve ever used a computer program and wondered how you can make it better fit your needs, or what effect an entirely different program would have, then you may be a natural software developer. A creative mind is just as important – more-so, arguably – than the computer programming courses you’ll need to be able to make your ideas a reality onscreen. There’s also a high amount of gratification in software development; just imagine a program you helped design being used by friends and family.
A degree in computer science is where you begin. The sooner you complete it, the sooner you can begin earning a living. At ECPI University, you can earn a bachelor’s degree in just 2.5 years though our year-round program. For more information about ECPI University and its Software Development Program, visit our website at www.ecpi.edu.
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.
