Software Engineer Career Outlook and Salary

Software Engineer Career Outlook and Salary

The job market for Software Engineers is incredibly broad. There are software components involved in virtually every modern development you can think of. Computers control everything from aircraft to medical imaging devices, and these systems are conceived and executed by Software Engineers.

Since it’s such a big part of our daily lives, most people think immediately of software running on the Internet when they envision a career in this arena. While there are a plethora of rewarding jobs developing software for use on the Internet, it’s a good thing to know that there are also rewarding jobs in areas like computer simulations, artificial intelligence, real-time systems, aerospace, and embedded systems.

Salary

According to an October 18th, 2012 report on GlassDoor.com, Software Engineers at top companies average $92,648 annually. Google topped the compensation charts, paying their Software Engineers an average of $128,336.

The US Government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports earnings on multiple software development jobs, none specifically labeled as Software Engineers. However, the average annual earnings reported for several different Software Engineering-related career fields corroborate the salary figures reported by GlassDoor.

There are numerous professional associations where Software Engineers can network and share information. One of the largest and oldest is the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The ACM boasts membership of more than 100,000 professionals as of 2011.

Another major association is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). While IEEE’s title might not sound like it would be fruitful for Software Engineers, the IEEE Computer Society has teamed with the ACM on numerous projects to enhance the professionalism of the Software Engineering field.

Like any degree in engineering, a Software Engineering degree is a demanding course of study. It requires an aptitude for math and science and favors those who love to think logically and methodically. The rewards for pursuing this degree are numerous and tangible: great salary, a growing job market, and a career working with like-minded professionals building the future. Check out the many programs available and see if one is right for you.

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