Software Developers
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
Most important skills
- Programming
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Systems Analysis
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Telecommunications
What the work involves
- Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.
- Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
- Determine system performance standards.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree (84.8% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years (43.9%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (24.8%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Software Developers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Very low | Lower on contact with others than 82% of occupations compared | 35% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Very low | Lower on dealing with the public than 94% of occupations compared | — |
| Teamwork | High | Higher on teamwork than 76% of occupations compared | 71% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | High | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 64% of occupations compared | 46% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom” |
| Time pressure | Low | Lower on time pressure than 76% of occupations compared | 40% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Very low | Lower on conflict situations than 99% of occupations compared | — |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 99% of occupations compared | 55% of surveyed respondents chose “Never” |
| Consequence of error | Low | Lower on consequence of error than 61% of occupations compared | 30% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: low
- Conflict situations: very low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: low
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 15.2%
- Contact with others about half the time: 16.84%
- Contact with others most of the time: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Constant contact with others: 35.18%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Fairly important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Important: 2.18%
- Very important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Extremely important: 0.3%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 0.24%
- Important: 14.52%
- Very important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Extremely important: 70.52%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 0.39%
- Limited freedom: 12.87%
- Some freedom: 45.6%
- A lot of freedom: 41.14%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
Time pressure
- Never: 0.3%
- Once a year or more but not every month: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a month or more but not every week: 33.66%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 39.73%
- Every day: 12.52%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
Conflict situations
- Never: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a year or more but not every month: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a month or more but not every week: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a week or more but not every day: 0%
- Every day: 0%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 54.58%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 45.33%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 0.09%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 0%
- Every day: 0%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 12.84%
- Fairly serious: 30.46%
- Serious: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Very serious: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Extremely serious: 3.9%
n = 28, Incumbent 08/2025
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O*NET-SOC 15-1252.00 · SOC 15-1252 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8