Software Engineer: Build Modern Systems & Apps

Computer software engineers develop, create and maintain computer programs and operating systems
. They build upon a computer's existing hardware, which is typically developed by other engineering professionals, to create the programs and systems that users interact with.

Successful software engineers are skilled in programming languages, problem-solving and attention to detail
. A career in computer software engineering can be a great fit for someone who possesses these skills and wants the flexibility to work in many different industries. Because software engineers are utilized practically everywhere, you can usually find jobs in a niche that appeals to you, such as finance, entertainment, healthcare and much more.

Computer software engineers design and create computer software
. They also have to run extensive tests on their programs and make changes as needed. As technology evolves and becomes outdated, computer software engineers must update their technology to fix issues that arise or simply make the experience better for the user.

Generally, computer software engineers typically focus their expertise into one of two areas:

• Back-end operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Android

Software engineers may also be responsible for implementing the systems that employees at a given organization use and provide technical support if those systems fail. This may mean they also create and enforce IT standards within an organization, and update those standards as needed.

The education requirements to be a software engineer can vary immensely and are primarily dictated by individual employers
. Software engineers aren't required to be licensed—unless an employer specifically requires it for their engineering employees—which means there aren't any universal standards for a software engineer's education. In fact, several famous computer software engineers didn't have a degree at all.

Be that as it may, software engineers must possess certain skills which are typically developed in a degree program or other alternative education program
, many of which are offered online . Most software engineers will need at least an associate degree, bachelor's degree or certificate to qualify for entry-level positions so that they may start gaining experience and moving up the career ladder.

Some higher-level positions may require a master's degree or PhD to be qualified. Whether you're looking at associate degrees or doctoral degrees, many schools and universities offer degree programs in software engineering itself. Some software engineers have degrees in computer science, information systems and related subjects instead.

The BLS tracks software engineering salary data for multiple occupations which fall under the computer engineering category. Software developers, for example, had a median annual wage of $133,080 in 2024
.

The states that pay software developers the most lay on our nation's coast and include California, Washington, Massachusetts, New York and Maryland.

Computer tech epicenters such as Seattle and Silicon Valley—which generally consists of the San Francisco and San Jose metropolitan areas—boast some of the highest salaries and highest concentrations of software developers in the country.

It's no secret that technology—particularly computer technology—has advanced exponentially in the last few decades.

As this trend continues, computer software engineers will be a part of this advancement for years to come, making their job outlook one of the brightest across all occupations
.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the employment of software developers will grow 15.8% through 2034, which is about five times faster than the average across all other jobs.

15.8% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

Computer software engineers are utilized in just about every corner of modern society and industry
, which is one of the reasons their growth is…