Salary Range
$50,000 to $100,000+Overview
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Software designers, also known as software developers, create new ideas and design prepackaged and customized computer software. Systems software designers create systems software such as computer operating systems, proprietary computer systems for businesses and other organizations, and operating systems that control consumer electronics in cars, big-box appliances, and smartphones. These systems make it possible for computers to complete given tasks and to solve problems. Software applications designers create word processing programs, video games, front-end database programs, and spreadsheet programs. Once a need in the market has been identified, software designers first conceive of the program on a global level by outlining what the program will do. Then they write the specifications from which programmers code computer commands to perform the given functions. There are about 1.1 million software developers and programmers employed in the United States. Computer systems design jobs employed 33 percent of them as of May 2015. Software publishers, finance and insurance business, and electronics product manufacturing employed another 24 percent.
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor's DegreeCertification/License
RecommendedOutlook
Much Faster than the AveragePersonality Traits
Creative
Problem-Solving
Scientific
Career Ladder
Software Manager
Project Team Leader
Software Designer
Computer Programmer
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