The Day-to-Day as a Software Engineer
Software Engineers create software for computers using programming languages, math, computer science theory, and engineering techniques. They work in almost every industry from retail to medicine and can enjoy onsite and remote work opportunities. They usually work full-time but they can also find lucrative freelance work. When working full-time, they often collaborate with a team that is made up of Designers, UX and UI professionals, management teams, sales teams, and Developers.
Software Engineers work in a deadline-driven environment. Sometimes they work on one aspect of a project, the whole project from start to finish, or multitask by working on pieces of multiple projects at once. They usually work about 40 hours per week, but sometimes work overtime during code sprints. Software Engineers perform a variety of tasks on a daily basis including coding, research the best technology to use for a project, creating prototypes, finding and resolving bugs, conducting A/B testing, collaborating with teammates, or working through a code sprint.
What Skills Should Software Engineers Have?
Software Engineers must be fluent in multiple coding languages and proficient using frameworks, libraries, and developer tools. They usually specialize by learning a few languages or a specific stack. Despite specializing, Software Engineers must possess the ability to self learn a new language when required and should at least be familiar with relevant popular coding languages. Depending on their employer, they might need to know Java, Ruby, Python, C#, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, or C++.
Software Engineers might use tools like JavaScript Frameworks, Python Libraries, and integrated development environments (IDEs). They will also need to know the basics of computer science, techniques like Agile and Scrum, popular operating systems, web services, APIs, and software testing.
Soft skills such as problem-solving, strategic planning, logical reasoning, process analysis, and communication will be practiced in the Software Engineer position. While the Software Engineer doesn’t always work on a team, communicating ideas, plans, and tasks will likely be required.
Learn the Skills You Need to Become a Software Engineer
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Coding
Coding is another way to say computer programming. It is how humans "instruct" computers through the process of designing and building a functioning computer program. Computer and web programs are built using coding languages like C, Python, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, and more. Coding can be used to create desktop, mobile, or web applications.
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Python
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. It is used to write scripts, automations, algorithms, manipulate data, and create frameworks. Python prioritizes simplicity, easy to learn syntax, readability, and versatility.
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SQL
SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is a computer language used to store, manipulate, and retrieve data which is stored in a relational database.
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Web Development
Web development is the practice of building, creating, and maintaining websites. Web development uses coding languages to build a website for the internet.
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Java
Java is a class-based, object-oriented, general-purpose programming language that was designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. Java is used by Software Engineers to create computer applications. Java can also be used to build modules and applets for use within a web page.
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JavaScript
JavaScript is an object-oriented computer programming language. It is mostly used for interactive effects and user experience enhancements within web browsers. JavaScript also has frameworks which allow Developers to quickly find and execute small chunks of prewritten JavaScript in a standard, predictable way.
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Ruby
Ruby is a dynamic, interpreted, high-level, open-source programming language which emphasizes simplicity and productivity. The syntax is designed to be natural to read and easy to write. It is used to build web applications. The development framework, Ruby on Rails, is the most popular implementation of Ruby.
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PHP & MySQL
PHP is a free, open-source, and server-side scripting language for web development. MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that uses Structure Query Language (SQL).
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React
React is an open-source JavaScript library that is maintained by Facebook for building user interfaces. React is often used as a base in the development of single-page or mobile applications, social media style applications, and other web platforms.
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Dev Bootcamp
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Software Engineering
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FinTech
FinTech stands for Financial Technology. FinTech is the technology or computer programs that are used to support, improve, enable, and automate banking and financial services.
Software Engineer Salaries
A Software Engineer in the United States makes, on average, $127,247 annually, according to Indeed.com.
Salaries for Software Engineers vary by region within the the United States. Listed below are some Software Engineer salaries for specific areas with the United States compared with the average national salary:
- U.S. Average $127K source n/a
-
New York City
$138K
source
+8.83%
- U.S. Average $127K source n/a
-
San Francisco, CA
$114K
source
-9.84%
-
San Francisco, CA
$114K
source
-9.96%
-
San Jose, CA
$109K
source
-14.21%
-
San Jose, CA
$109K
source
-14.29%
-
New York City
$108K
source
-14.48%
-
Washington, D.C.
$108K
source
-14.48%
-
Washington, D.C.
$108K
source
-14.65%
-
Boston, MA
$107K
source
-15.65%
-
Boston, MA
$107K
source
-15.78%
-
Oakland, CA
$106K
source
-16.43%
-
Oakland, CA
$106K
source
-16.61%
-
Seattle, WA
$105K
source
-17.06%
-
Seattle, WA
$105K
source
-17.19%
-
Stamford, CT
$104K
source
-17.57%
-
Stamford, CT
$104K
source
-17.71%
-
Los Angeles, CA
$103K
source
-18.99%
-
Los Angeles, CA
$103K
source
-19.02%
-
Hartford, CT
$102K
source
-19.83%
-
Chicago, IL
$101K
source
-19.84%
-
Orange County, CA
$101K
source
-19.95%
-
Hartford, CT
$101K
source
-19.99%
-
Chicago, IL
$101K
source
-20.01%
-
New York
$100K
source
-20.93%
-
San Diego, CA
$100K
source
-21%
-
Long Island, NY
$100K
source
-21.02%
-
New York
$100K
source
-21.04%
-
Sacramento, CA
$100K
source
-21.08%
-
San Diego, CA
$100K
source
-21.11%
-
Sacramento, CA
$100K
source
-21.22%
-
Long Island, NY
$100K
source
-21.26%
-
Denver, CO
$100K
source
-21.36%
-
Alexandria, VA
$99K
source
-21.43%
-
Denver, CO
$99K
source
-21.5%
-
Minneapolis, MN
$99K
source
-21.86%
-
Minneapolis, MN
$99K
source
-21.98%
-
Philadelphia, PA
$99K
source
-22.02%
-
Philadelphia, PA
$99K
source
-22.12%
-
Atlanta, GA
$98K
source
-22.34%
-
Atlanta, GA
$98K
source
-22.47%
-
Baltimore, MD
$98K
source
-22.63%
-
New Jersey
$98K
source
-22.65%
-
Baltimore, MD
$98K
source
-22.74%
-
New Jersey
$98K
source
-22.77%
-
Fairfax, VA
$98K
source
-22.93%
-
Fairfax, VA
$98K
source
-22.97%
-
Dallas, TX
$97K
source
-23.01%
-
Dallas, TX
$97K
source
-23.13%
-
Portland, OR
$97K
source
-23.18%
-
Connecticut
$97K
source
-23.22%
-
Detroit, MI
$97K
source
-23.33%
-
Portland, OR
$97K
source
-23.36%
-
Austin, TX
$97K
source
-23.44%
-
Detroit, MI
$97K
source
-23.45%
-
Austin, TX
$97K
source
-23.68%
-
Albany, NY
$96K
source
-24.09%
-
Virginia, US
$96K
source
-24.1%
-
Albany, NY
$96K
source
-24.14%
-
New Haven, CT
$96K
source
-24.23%
-
New Haven, CT
$96K
source
-24.23%
-
Virginia, US
$96K
source
-24.25%
-
Houston, TX
$96K
source
-24.55%
-
Houston, TX
$95K
source
-24.58%
-
Charlotte, NC
$95K
source
-24.59%
-
Phoenix, AZ
$95K
source
-24.64%
-
Charlotte, NC
$95K
source
-24.71%
-
Phoenix, AZ
$95K
source
-24.74%
-
Richmond, VA
$95K
source
-24.74%
-
Richmond, VA
$95K
source
-24.88%
-
Raleigh, NC
$95K
source
-25.12%
-
Raleigh, NC
$95K
source
-25.22%
-
St. Louis, MO
$94K
source
-25.48%
-
St. Louis, MO
$94K
source
-25.6%
-
Des Moines, IA
$94K
source
-25.81%
-
Milwaukee, WI
$94K
source
-25.96%
-
Pittsburgh, PA
$94K
source
-26.03%
-
Worcester, MA
$94K
source
-26.04%
-
Des Moines, IA
$94K
source
-26.05%
-
Pittsburgh, PA
$94K
source
-26.05%
-
Columbus, OH
$94K
source
-26.05%
-
Milwaukee, WI
$94K
source
-26.07%
-
Nashville, TN
$94K
source
-26.1%
-
United States
$94K
source
-26.12%
-
San Bernardino, CA
$94K
source
-26.12%
-
Worcester, MA
$93K
source
-26.14%
-
United States
$93K
source
-26.17%
-
San Bernardino, CA
$93K
source
-26.19%
-
Columbus, OH
$93K
source
-26.26%
-
Nashville, TN
$93K
source
-26.28%
-
Riverside, CA
$93K
source
-26.44%
-
Cleveland, OH
$93K
source
-26.56%
-
Riverside, CA
$93K
source
-26.6%
-
Madison, WI
$93K
source
-26.62%
-
Bakersfield, CA
$93K
source
-26.65%
-
Tampa, FL
$93K
source
-26.66%
-
Cleveland, OH
$93K
source
-26.68%
-
Vancouver
$93K
source
-26.68%
-
Tampa, FL
$93K
source
-26.74%
-
Madison, WI
$93K
source
-26.75%
-
Miami, FL
$93K
source
-26.77%
-
Cincinnati, OH
$93K
source
-26.78%
-
Kansas City, MO
$93K
source
-26.79%
-
Fresno, CA
$93K
source
-26.81%
-
Kansas City, MO
$93K
source
-26.85%
-
Miami, FL
$93K
source
-26.86%
-
Salt Lake City, UT
$92K
source
-26.93%
-
Cincinnati, OH
$92K
source
-26.94%
-
Fresno, CA
$92K
source
-27.01%
-
Salt Lake City, UT
$92K
source
-27.09%
-
Buffalo, NY
$92K
source
-27.17%
-
Indianapolis, IN
$92K
source
-27.21%
-
Indianapolis, IN
$92K
source
-27.26%
-
Las Vegas, NV
$92K
source
-27.29%
-
Buffalo, NY
$92K
source
-27.31%
-
Las Vegas, NV
$92K
source
-27.42%
-
Honolulu, HI
$92K
source
-27.44%
-
New Orleans, LA
$92K
source
-27.57%
-
Honolulu, HI
$92K
source
-27.59%
-
New Orleans, LA
$91K
source
-27.75%
-
Memphis, TN
$91K
source
-27.97%
-
Birmingham, AL
$91K
source
-27.98%
-
Memphis, TN
$91K
source
-28.12%
-
Orlando, FL
$91K
source
-28.16%
-
San Antonio, TX
$91K
source
-28.16%
-
Birmingham, AL
$91K
source
-28.18%
-
San Antonio, TX
$91K
source
-28.28%
-
Orlando, FL
$91K
source
-28.3%
-
Syracuse, NY
$90K
source
-28.79%
-
Syracuse, NY
$90K
source
-28.85%
-
Florida
$90K
source
-28.9%
-
Omaha, NE
$90K
source
-28.91%
-
Omaha, NE
$90K
source
-28.99%
-
Florida
$90K
source
-29.01%
-
Jacksonville, FL
$90K
source
-29.04%
-
Oklahoma City, OK
$90K
source
-29.14%
-
Jacksonville, FL
$90K
source
-29.19%
-
Albuquerque, NM
$90K
source
-29.23%
-
Rochester, NY
$90K
source
-29.24%
-
Oklahoma City, OK
$89K
source
-29.3%
-
Rochester, NY
$89K
source
-29.34%
-
Albuquerque, NM
$89K
source
-29.39%
-
Dayton, OH
$89K
source
-29.6%
-
Columbia, SC
$89K
source
-29.71%
-
Dayton, OH
$89K
source
-29.77%
-
Columbia, SC
$89K
source
-29.77%
-
Louisville, KY
$89K
source
-29.77%
-
Louisville, KY
$89K
source
-29.89%
-
Tucson, AZ
$89K
source
-30.05%
-
Tucson, AZ
$88K
source
-30.17%
-
Inland Empire, CA
$88K
source
-30.36%
-
Virginia Beach, VA
$88K
source
-30.49%
-
Greensboro, NC
$88K
source
-30.52%
-
Inland Empire, CA
$88K
source
-30.56%
-
Virginia Beach, VA
$88K
source
-30.6%
-
Little Rock, AR
$88K
source
-30.63%
-
Baton Rouge, LA
$88K
source
-30.64%
-
Greensboro, NC
$88K
source
-30.65%
-
Grand Rapids, MI
$88K
source
-30.73%
-
Little Rock, AR
$88K
source
-30.79%
-
Grand Rapids, MI
$88K
source
-30.8%
-
Greenville, SC
$87K
source
-30.97%
-
Greenville, SC
$87K
source
-31.1%
-
Tulsa, OK
$86K
source
-31.66%
-
Tulsa, OK
$86K
source
-31.77%
-
Sarasota, FL
$86K
source
-31.96%
-
Sarasota, FL
$86K
source
-32.15%
-
Knoxville, TN
$85K
source
-32.75%
-
Knoxville, TN
$85K
source
-32.86%
-
El Paso, TX
$83K
source
-34.23%
-
El Paso, TX
$83K
source
-34.41%
-
Ottawa
$81K
source
-35.71%
-
Toronto
$81K
source
-35.92%
-
Calgary
$77K
source
-38.72%
-
Calgary
$77K
source
-38.72%
-
McAllen, TX
$77K
source
-38.73%
-
McAllen, TX
$77K
source
-38.82%
-
Montreal
$77K
source
-38.99%
-
San Juan
$75K
source
-40.63%
-
San Juan
$75K
source
-40.7%
-
Edmonton
$73K
source
-42.44%
-
Victoria
$65K
source
-48.25%
-
Winnipeg
$63K
source
-50.32%
-
Quebec City, QC
$57K
source
-54.65%
-
Baton Rouge, LA
$0K
source
-100%
-
Bakersfield, CA
$0K
source
-100%
Typical Qualifications to Become a Software Engineer
You do not need a higher education degree to become a Software Engineer. Software Engineers often have a bachelor’s degree in computer science and this is sometimes listed as a preference by employers. However, it is more important for a Software Engineer to demonstrate proficiency and their ability to learn new things.
Searching for Software Engineer Jobs
Software Engineers work in many different environments including corporate companies, startups, freelance, contract, or the government. They can find jobs in almost any industry but will find the most entry-level jobs at startups. Software Engineers can find lucrative work in freelance or contract positions as well.
You can find Software Engineer jobs on these sites:
- Indeed
- Google Jobs
- Glassdoor
- AngelList
- Dice
- Authentic Jobs
- Mashable
- Stack Overflow
- Startupers
- StartupHire
- Hired
You can find freelance, contract, or remote Software Engineer jobs on these sites:
Tips to Become a Software Engineer
Software Engineers are almost always in high demand. In this role, don’t be afraid to take the leap and apply for positions you may not have the preferred experience level for. A Software Engineer should have a well-rounded portfolio that showcases their work creating software. A good portfolio can include case studies that show the process of building software from start to finish, articulate the process of building a single part of an application, or an interactive and complete piece of software. Posting these portfolio examples on GitHub and on a simple portfolio website or blog is common practice so that potential employers can view your work.
Software Engineers should also be utilizing LinkedIn to apply for jobs and network throughout their job search. Your LinkedIn profile should be up-to-date, including any past experience (even in unrelated fields), and include keywords relating to a Software Engineer’s skills and responsibilities. It should also show and tell how your past experiences offer transferable value to your position as a Software Engineer.
To get a leg up, try to connect with a point person with a letter of introduction at each company you send an application to, whether you applied via LinkedIn or not. You should include a “note” with your invitation to connect that includes who you are and a question to start a conversation. This will provide you name recognition and sometimes first-hand advice. You should also make these connections with people who might be your manager at any company you would like to work for regardless of whether they have posted job openings. These connections will also help freelance Engineers grow their client base.
What Job Titles Would a Software Engineer Hold?
Software Engineers will probably begin with junior or intermediate positions but will find that rising the ranks to a senior position, moving to a larger organization, or going freelance is possible relatively quickly and will result in a much higher annual salary.
Software Engineer can apply for these job titles:
- Software Engineer
- Engineering Fellow
- Junior Software Engineer
- Senior Software Engineer
- Associate Software Engineer
- Principal Software Engineer
- Full Stack Developer
- Back End Developer
- Software Developer
- Junior Software Developer
- Senior Software Developer
- Java Engineer
- Quality Assurance Engineer
Related Careers
Software Engineers can look forward to plenty of opportunities for upward mobility. Whether that’s rising from Junior to Senior positions or moving up to a vice president or chief position such as Chief Technology Officer. They’ll need to upskill throughout their career and if they learn software architecture, project management, or product management they can secure job titles such as Engineering Lead, Engineering Project Manager, VP of Product Management, Head of Product, Chief Architect, or Chief Digital Officer. Each of these positions pay much higher salaries than a basic Software Engineer position but may take three or more years of experience to qualify for.
Salary Comparison to Software Engineer
- Software Engineer $127K n/a
- Software Engineer $127K n/a
-
Back End Developer
$116K
-8.39%
-
Python Developer
$114K
-9.7%
-
Product Manager
$102K
-19.53%
-
Front End Developer
$102K
-19.82%
-
Full Stack Developer
$101K
-20.56%
-
Web Developer
$72K
-43.2%
-
Web Designer
$51K
-59.7%
-
Web Developer
Web developers build webpages using coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They program functionality and identify/troubleshoot errors in code. Web developers can work on front-end development (the part of the website you see in a web browser), or on back-end development (the logic and database functionality that runs on the web server). Others work as full-stack developers, providing end-to-end (front to back) expertise.
Learn about becoming a Web Developer -
Full Stack Developer
Full Stack Developers build web applications for both the visible front end that users see and the back end that powers the applications.
Learn about becoming a Full Stack Developer -
Product Manager
Product managers guide product development from ideation to market. Starting with consumer and market research, they use their understanding of customer wants and needs to inform product development and go-to-market strategy. They will work closely with engineering, marketing, sales, and other teams to launch products. After launch, they solicit and analyze feedback on the product to inform future iterations.
Learn about becoming a Product Manager -
Software Engineer
Software engineers use their extensive knowledge of user experience design, operating systems, and programming languages to develop software. They can create different types of software, from games to operating systems. After analyzing a client's needs, they design, develop, and test software to meet that need. Software engineers can be divided into two distinct career categories: application engineers and systems engineers.
Learn about becoming a Software Engineer -
Python Developer
Python Developers typically choose to focus on back end web development, data science or analysis, scripting, or product development. They build the server side of websites, processes for data analysis, and create automation scripts.
Learn about becoming a Python Developer -
Back End Developer
A Back End Developer builds the server-side of a web application and integrates front end development components.
Learn about becoming a Back End Developer -
Web Designer
Web designers design the appearance and workings of a website. They use their understanding of both visual design and technical design principles to create functional web layouts. Some web designers work from home and enjoy the flexibility of freelance work, while others work for agencies or businesses. Good web designers have the experience and foresight to anticipate the end-user experience and design for ease of use and navigation.
Learn about becoming a Web Designer -
Front End Developer
A Front End Developer builds the front end, also called client-side, of a website or web application. Some Front End Developers will update current websites to meet modern standards, create prototypes from wireframes, and use design comps to satisfy the needs of their employer or client.
Learn about becoming a Front End Developer