Computer Programmers
SOC: 15-1131.00

Description:

Create, modify, and test the code, forms, and script that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software developers or other individuals. May assist software developers by analyzing user needs and designing software solutions. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
328,600 employed

Projected (2024):
302,200 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • .NET Developer
  • Analyst Programmer
  • Application Programer Analyst
  • Application Programmer Analyst
  • Applications Developer
  • Applications Programmer
  • Beta Tester
  • Bioinformatics Specialist
  • Business Programmer
  • Business Systems Analyst
  • Client Server Programmer
  • COBOL Programmer (Common Business Oriented Language Programmer)
  • Computer Animator
  • Computer Game Programmer
  • Computer Game Tester
  • Computer Graphic Artist
  • Computer Graphic Designer
  • Computer Language Coder
  • Computer Programer
  • Computer Programmer
  • Computer Programmer Analyst
  • Computer Programming Supervisor
  • Content Manager
  • CRM Developer (Customer Relationship Management Developer)
  • Cryptologist
  • Database Designer
  • Database Developer
  • Database Engineer
  • Database Programmer
  • Engineering and Scientific Programmer
  • Engineering Programmer
  • Enterprise Architect
  • Game Developer
  • Game Programer
  • Graphic Engineer
  • Information Architect
  • Internet Designer
  • Internet Programmer
  • Internet Webmaster
  • Java Developer
  • Java Programmer
  • Mainframe Developer
  • Mainframe Programmer
  • Network Administrator
  • Object-Oriented Programmer
  • Operating System Programmer
  • Oracle Developer
  • Programer
  • Programmer
  • Programmer Analyst
  • Report Developer
  • SAS Programmer
  • Simulation Developer
  • Software Developer
  • Software Development Engineer
  • Software Engineer
  • Software Programmer
  • Software Tester
  • System Software Developer
  • Systems Analyst
  • Systems Programmer
  • Video Game Programmer
  • Video Game Tester
  • Videogame Tester
  • Web Analyst
  • Web Application Developer
  • Web Architect
  • Web Designer
  • Web Editor
  • Web Graphic Designer
  • Web Page Designer
  • Web Programmer
  • Web Site Designer
  • Web Site Developer
  • Website Designer
  • Website Developer
  • Website Programmer

    • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

    Education:

    Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Geography
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
  • Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.
  • Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program.
  • Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
  • Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
  • Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
  • Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
  • Write or contribute to instructions or manuals to guide end users.
  • Investigate whether networks, workstations, the central processing unit of the system, or peripheral equipment are responding to a program's instructions.
  • Prepare detailed workflow charts and diagrams that describe input, output, and logical operation, and convert them into a series of instructions coded in a computer language.
  • Perform systems analysis and programming tasks to maintain and control the use of computer systems software as a systems programmer.
  • Consult with and assist computer operators or system analysts to define and resolve problems in running computer programs.
  • Assign, coordinate, and review work and activities of programming personnel.
  • Collaborate with computer manufacturers and other users to develop new programming methods.
  • Train subordinates in programming and program coding.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Computer servers
  • Desktop computers
  • Mainframe computers
  • Mainframe operating systems
  • Serial port cards
  • A programming language APL
  • ABC Compiler
  • ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ
  • Ada
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ColdFusion
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flex
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PostScript
  • Advanced business application programming ABAP
  • AJAX
  • Algorithmic language ALGOL
  • Amazon Kinesis
  • American National Standards Institute ANSI C
  • Apache Cassandra
  • Apache Hadoop
  • Apache Hive
  • Apache HTTP Server
  • Apache Maven
  • Apache Pig
  • Apache Solr
  • Apache Struts
  • Apache Tomcat
  • Assembler
  • AWK
  • B-Method
  • Basis BBx VisualPRO/5
  • Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • Bigloo Scheme
  • Bourne Shell
  • C
  • C#
  • C++
  • CA Erwin Data Modeler
  • Call-processing language CPL
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSS
  • CAST SQL Builder
  • Citrix software
  • Clipper
  • Code generator software
  • Code munger software
  • CoffeeCup software
  • Collaborative Application Markup Language CAML
  • Command interpreters
  • Common business oriented language COBOL
  • Common Lisp Object System CLOS
  • Compilers
  • Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
  • Computer Associates integrated data management system CA-IDMS
  • Computer On-line Real-time Applications Language CORAL 66
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Customer information control system CICS software
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA software
  • Data definition language DDL
  • Data manipulation language DML
  • dBASE Plus
  • Debugging software
  • Decompilers
  • Delphi software
  • Drupal
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • E++ pattern language
  • Eclipse software
  • Eiffel
  • Embarcadero Delphi
  • Emerald Software Group Emerald Green Office
  • Enterprise JavaBeans
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Event-driven State-machines Programming
  • Ext JS
  • Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Extensible stylesheet language XSL
  • FileMaker Pro software
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Forth
  • Gambit Scheme
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Google Analytics
  • Graphical user interfaces GUI
  • Greatis Object Inspector
  • Haskell
  • Hewlett Packard HP-UX
  • Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
  • Hibernate ORM
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • IBM Cognos Impromptu
  • IBM DB2
  • IBM Domino
  • IBM InfoSphere DataStage
  • IBM Power Systems software
  • IBM Rational ClearCase
  • IBM WebSphere
  • ICON programming language
  • IEA Software Emerald
  • Incremental compiler software
  • Inline code expander software
  • Integrated development environment IDE software
  • Interface definition language IDL
  • Interpreter software
  • Interstate connection ICON
  • J
  • JavaScript
  • Job control language JCL
  • jQuery
  • Just-in-time compiler
  • KornShell
  • LAMP Stack
  • Linux
  • List processing language LISP
  • Logo
  • Low-level debugger software
  • McAfee software
  • Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft ActiveX
  • Microsoft ASP.NET
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP
  • Microsoft Dynamics software
  • Microsoft ESP SDK
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Exchange Server
  • Microsoft Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML)
  • Microsoft FrontPage
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft SharePoint software
  • Microsoft Silverlight
  • Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
  • Microsoft SQL Server software
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
  • Microsoft Visual Basic.NET
  • Microsoft Visual C#
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro
  • Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Microsoft Word
  • MicroStrategy software
  • Minitab software
  • Mixed code generator
  • Modula
  • MongoDB
  • MUMPS M
  • MySQL software
  • Nagios
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS software
  • Node.js
  • NoSQL software
  • Oberon
  • Objective C
  • Objective Caml
  • One pass compiler software
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
  • Oracle Hyperion software
  • Oracle Java
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Oracle JDBC
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Financials
  • Oracle PeopleSoft software
  • Oracle PL/SQL
  • Oracle Solaris
  • Oracle WebLogic Server
  • Partial class generator software
  • Pascal
  • Perforce Helix software
  • PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
  • Pick software
  • PostgreSQL software
  • PowerSoft PowerBuilder
  • Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
  • Programming language one PL/I
  • Progress OpenEdge ABL
  • Progress Sonic ESB
  • Progress WebSpeed Workshop
  • Prolog
  • Puppet
  • Python
  • Qlik Tech QlikView
  • R
  • ReCrystallize Crystal Reports
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Red Hat WildFly
  • Relational database management software
  • Restructured extended executor REXX
  • Retargetable compiler
  • Revision control software
  • Ruby
  • Ruby on Rails
  • SAP Business Objects software
  • SAP BusinessObjects Data Integrator
  • SAP Crystal Reports
  • SAP NetWeaver BW
  • SAP software
  • SAS software
  • Scheme
  • Self
  • Shell script
  • Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE
  • Smalltalk
  • Snort
  • Source code editor software
  • Source code migration software
  • Spark
  • Splunk Enterprise
  • Spring Framework
  • SPSS software
  • Stage compiler
  • StataCorp Stata
  • String oriented symbolic language SNOBOL
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Structured Query Report SQR
  • Sybase software
  • Sybase SQL Server
  • Symantec Visual Cafe
  • Symbolic debugger software
  • Tableau software
  • Teradata Database
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Threaded code compiler
  • Tier generator software
  • Transact-SQL
  • Unified modeling language UML
  • UNIX
  • Verilog
  • Veritas NetBackup
  • Virage VS Archive
  • Virtual private networking VPN software
  • Web service definition language WDSL
  • Wireshark
  • Workflow software
  • Xerces2 Java Parser

    • computer and mathematical

    industry stats

    SOC: 15-0000

    Total Employed: 4,005,250

    Average Annual Salary: $86,170