Salary Range
$50,000 to $100,000+Overview
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
Related Professions
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Animators
- Appliance Service Technicians
- Architects
- Art Directors
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Automotive Designers
- Avionics Engineers and Technicians
- Biometrics Systems Specialists
- Bloggers
- Cartoonists
- Chief Information Officers
- Clinical Data Managers
- Columnists
- Computer and Office Machine Service Technicians
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer Trainers
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Costume Designers
- Data Entry Clerks
- Data Processing Technicians
- Data Scientists
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Database Specialists
- Digital Advertising and Marketing Workers
- Digital Agents
- Digital Designers
- Document Management Specialists
- Drafters
- Editorial and Research Assistants
- Editors
- Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Ergonomists
- Exhibit Designers
- Fabric Designers
- Fashion Designers
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Furniture Designers
- Futurists
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Greeting Card Designers and Writers
- Hardware Engineers
- Home Stagers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Engineers
- Information Assurance Analysts
- Information Brokers
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Interior Designers and Decorators
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Content Curators
- Internet Developers
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Quality Assurance Specialists
- Internet Security Specialists
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Jewelers and Jewelry Repairers
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Landscape Architects
- Laser Technicians
- Magazine Editors
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Market Research Analysts
- Materials Engineers
- Mathematicians
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Media Planners and Buyers
- Media Relations Specialists
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Millwrights
- Mobile Software Developers
- Multimedia Artists and Animators
- Multimedia Sound Workers
- Newspaper Editors
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Online Reputation Managers
- Optical Engineers
- Plastics Engineers and Technicians
- Podcasters
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Production Designers and Art Directors
- Professional Hackers
- Quality Control Engineers and Technicians
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Robotics Engineers and Technicians
- Search Engine Optimization Specialists
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Social Media Workers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Solutions Architects
- Special and Visual Effects Technicians
- Systems Setup Specialists
- Technical Support Specialists
- Technical Writers and Editors
- User Experience Designers
- Video Game Art Directors
- Video Game Producers
- Video Game Testers
- Webmasters
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wireless Service Technicians
- Writers
