Computer Programmers

Abstract

Education Computer programmers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as mathematics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program State & Area Data Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. * Computer programmers Projections Central Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree 2023 Median Pay: $138,080 Computer Network Architects Job Duties: Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets.

Summary

What Computer Programmers Do

Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly.

Work Environment

Programmers usually work in office settings, most commonly in the computer systems design and related services industry. Most computer programmers work full time.

How to Become a Computer Programmer

Computer programmers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. Most programmers specialize in several programming languages.

Pay

The median annual wage for computer programmers was $99,700 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of computer programmers is projected to decline 10 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 6,400 openings for computer programmers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State 8: Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for computer programmers.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of computer programmers with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O·NET

Learn more about computer programmers by visiting additional resources, including O·NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Computer Programmers Do

Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly. They turn the designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow. In addition, programmers run tests to ensure that newly created applications and software produce the expected results. If the products do not work correctly, programmers check the code or scripts for mistakes and modify them.

Duties

Computer programmers typically do the following:

* Write programs in a variety of computer languages, such as C++ and Java

* Update and expand existing programs

* Test programs for errors and fix the faulty lines of computer code

* Create, modify, and test code or scripts in software that simplifies development

Programmers work closely with software developers, and in some businesses their duties overlap. When such overlap occurs, programmers may be required to take on some of the tasks that are typically assigned to developers, such as designing programs.

Programmers use code libraries, which are collections of independent lines of code, to simplify their writing and improve their efficiency. They may create their own code libraries or make use of existing ones.

In addition, programmers may write or use software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications that are centrally hosted online. Although programmers typically need to rewrite their programs to work on different system platforms, such as Windows or OS X, applications created with SaaS work on all platforms. Accordingly, programmers writing SaaS applications may not have to rewrite as much code as other programmers do and can instead spend more time writing new programs.

Work Environment

Computer programmers held about 139,400 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of computer programmers were as follows:

Computer systems design and related services 29%

Self-employed workers 11

Manufacturing 6

Finance and insurance 6

Software publishers 5

Programmers usually work in office settings, which may be in their homes.

Work Schedules

Most computer programmers work full time.

How to Become a Computer Programmer

Computer programmers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related subject. Most programmers specialize in several programming languages.

Education

Computer programmers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as mathematics. However, some employers hire workers who have other degrees or experience in specific programming languages. Programmers who work in specific fields, such as healthcare or accounting, may take classes in that field to supplement their computer-related degree. In addition, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have experience gained through internships.

Most programmers learn computer languages while in school. However, a computer science degree gives students the skills they need to learn new computer languages easily. Students get experience writing code, testing programs, fixing errors, and doing many other tasks that they will perform on the job.

To keep up with changing technology, computer programmers may take continuing education classes and attend professional development seminars to learn new programming languages or about upgrades to programming languages they already know.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Programmers may become certified in specific programming languages or for vendor-specific programming products. Some companies require their computer programmers to be certified in the products they use.

Advancement

Programmers who have general business experience may become computer systems analysts. With experience, some programmers may become software developers. They may also be promoted to managerial positions. For more information, see the profiles on computer systems analysts, software developers, and computer and information systems managers.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Computer programmers must understand complex instructions in order to create computer code.

Communication skills. Although computer programmers work alone to write code, they must have effective communication skills to coordinate work on large projects with team members and managers.

Detail oriented. Computer programmers must closely examine the code that they write, modify, or test, because a small mistake may affect the entire computer program.

Problem-solving skills. Programmers check the code for errors and fix any they find.

Pay

The median annual wage for computer programmers was $99,700 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $58,950, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $167,230.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for computer programmers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Software publishers $116,050

Finance and insurance 108,590

Manufacturing 98,870

Computer systems design and related services 98,710

Most computer programmers work full time.

Job Outlook

Employment of computer programmers is projected to decline 10 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 6,400 openings for computer programmers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Computer programming work continues to be automated, helping computer programmers to become more efficient in some of their tasks. To save time and money, many companies are leveraging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to automate repetitive programming tasks. In addition, some higher-skilled programming tasks are increasingly done by other workers, such as software developers.

Employment projections data for computer programmers, 2023-33

Computer programmers

SOC Code:

15-1251

Employment, 2023:

139,400

Projected Employment, 2033:

126,000

Change, 2023-33 (Percent):

-10

Change, 2023-33 (Numeric):

-13,400

Employment By Industry:

Get data

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

State & Area Data

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

* Computer programmers

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state's websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of computer programmers.

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Job Duties:

Computer and information research scientists design innovative uses for new and existing computing technology.

Entry-Level Education:

Master's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$145,080

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Job Duties:

Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$169,510

Computer Hardware Engineers

Job Duties:

Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$138,080

Computer Network Architects

Job Duties:

Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$129,840

Computer Support Specialists

Job Duties:

Computer support specialists maintain computer networks and provide technical help to computer users.

Entry-Level Education:

See How to Become One

2023 Median Pay:

$60,810

Computer Systems Analysts

Job Duties:

Computer systems analysts study an organizations current computer systems and design ways to improve efficiency.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$103,800

Database Administrators and Architects

Job Duties:

Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure data.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$117,450

Information Security Analysts

Job Duties:

Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$120,360

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Job Duties:

Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations" computer networks and systems.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$95,360

Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers

Job Duties:

Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$130,160

Web Developers and Digital Designers

Job Duties:

Web developers create and maintain websites. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability.

Entry-Level Education:

Bachelor's degree

2023 Median Pay:

$92,750

Contacts for More Information

For more information about computer programmers, visit

Association for Computing Machinery

CompTIA

IEEE Computer Society

For information about opportunities for women pursuing information technology careers, visit

National Center for Women & Information Technology

O·NET

Computer Programmers

SUGGESTED CITATION:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer Programmers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm (visited March 06, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024