Software Engineers

Software engineers create or customize existing software programs to meet the needs of a particular business or industry. First, they spend considerable time researching, defining, and analyzing the problem at hand. Then, they develop software programs to resolve the problem on the computer. They may also create software applications that are used for informational purposes or entertainment. There are slightly more than 1 million software engineers employed in the United States; 643,830 work with applications software and 373,510 work with systems software.

Quick Facts
Duties	Create new or customize existing software programs to meet the needs and desires of a particular business or industry
Alternate Title(s)	Applications Software Engineer, Systems Software Engineer
Salary Range	$50,000 to $100,000+
Employment Prospects	Excellent
Advancement Prospects	Good
Work Environment	Primarily Indoors
Best Geographical Location(s)	Opportunities are available throughout the country, but the largest number of jobs are found in the Silicon Valley in northern California and states such as Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York
Education and Training	Bachelor's Degree
Related School Subjects	Computer Science Mathematics Physics
Experience	Internship; several years’ programming experience recommended
Skills	Computer Math Scientific
Personality Traits	Hands On Problem-Solving Technical
Licensure/Certification	Recommended
Special Requirements	None
Career Ladder	Software Manager, or Chief Information Officer, or Systems Designer Software Project Team Leader Software Engineer Software Engineering Technician

Software Engineers

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