Computer programmers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Computer Programmers: Convert project specifications and statements of problems and procedures to detailed logical flow charts for coding into computer language. Develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information. May
Computer programmers held about 455,000 jobs in 2004. Programmers are employed in almost every industry, but the largest concentration is in computer systems design and related services. Large numbers of programmers also work for telecommunications companies, software publishers, financial institutions, insurance carriers, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Many computer programmers are employed on a temporary or contract basis or work as independent consultants, providing companies expertise with new programming languages or specialized areas of application. Rather than hiring programmers as permanent employees and then laying them off after a job is completed, employers can contract with temporary help agencies, with consulting firms, or with programmers themselves. A marketing firm, for example, may require programming services only to write and debug the software necessary to get a new customer database running. Bringing in an independent contractor or consultant with experience in a new or advanced programming language enables the firm to complete the job without having to retrain existing workers. Such jobs may last anywhere from several weeks to a year or longer. There were 25,000 self-employed computer programmers in 2004.
Median annual earnings of computer programmers were $62,890 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $47,580and $81,280 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,470; the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,610. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer programmers in May 2004 are shown below:
| Software publishers | $73,060 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 67,600 |
| Data processing, hosting, and related services | 64,540 |
| Insurance carriers | 62,990 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 62,160 |
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science averaged $50,820 a year in 2005.
According to Robert Half International, a firm providing specialized staffing services, average annual starting salaries in 2005 ranged from $52,500 to $83,250 for applications development programmers/analysts, and from $55,000 to $88,250 for software developers. Average starting salaries for mainframe systems programmers ranged from $50,250 to $67,500 in 2005.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer Programmers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Computer programmers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: n.a. mean earnings: $49,930 (def) (IG) | $33,920 | $39,160 | $47,140 | $57,160 | $69,150 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 80 mean earnings: $55,780 | $32,440 | $44,790 | $53,540 | $64,210 | $77,580 |
| Mining employment: 860 mean earnings: $72,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,720 | $49,130 | $68,650 | $90,310 | $115,060 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 720 mean earnings: $73,390 | $34,070 | $48,820 | $70,840 | $92,400 | $116,940 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 50 mean earnings: $59,260 | $39,790 | $48,950 | $57,650 | $69,410 | $83,060 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 90 mean earnings: $69,370 | $40,760 | $50,180 | $61,180 | $82,960 | $106,890 |
| Utilities employment: 2,000 mean earnings: $66,260 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,370 | $52,210 | $65,420 | $79,540 | $93,050 |
| Utilities employment: 2,000 mean earnings: $66,260 | $40,370 | $52,210 | $65,420 | $79,540 | $93,050 |
| Construction employment: 1,040 mean earnings: $62,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,960 | $48,200 | $61,830 | $75,210 | $90,780 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 330 mean earnings: $65,480 | $33,310 | $44,450 | $61,810 | $85,750 | $106,720 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: n.a. mean earnings: $59,880 | $33,660 | $47,160 | $57,160 | $72,060 | $88,170 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 620 mean earnings: $61,910 | $41,100 | $49,880 | $62,420 | $72,910 | $85,050 |
| Manufacturing employment: 25,580 mean earnings: $66,460 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,540 | $47,630 | $61,670 | $79,470 | $100,480 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 490 mean earnings: $60,330 | $37,080 | $45,450 | $56,060 | $71,080 | $87,300 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $59,760 | $36,470 | $46,430 | $58,290 | $70,750 | $88,860 |
| Textile Mills employment: 320 mean earnings: $61,390 | $34,210 | $47,790 | $61,410 | $75,000 | $89,480 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 180 mean earnings: $58,010 | $35,840 | $43,790 | $56,990 | $70,390 | $85,370 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 580 mean earnings: $60,140 | $35,630 | $46,490 | $58,540 | $72,340 | $87,630 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 80 mean earnings: $66,910 | $41,720 | $52,020 | $66,340 | $82,960 | $93,470 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 100 mean earnings: $52,310 | $30,450 | $39,990 | $49,790 | $63,640 | $78,080 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $64,310 | $42,490 | $51,690 | $64,260 | $77,250 | $87,980 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 2,060 mean earnings: $59,610 | $36,170 | $44,940 | $56,800 | $70,990 | $88,050 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 160 mean earnings: $64,430 | $38,880 | $47,900 | $61,730 | $76,060 | $100,530 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 1,710 mean earnings: $66,840 | $39,610 | $50,480 | $65,300 | $82,040 | $96,380 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 830 mean earnings: $59,990 | $35,140 | $44,100 | $57,960 | $74,530 | $89,260 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $58,380 | $38,400 | $44,380 | $56,330 | $71,380 | $85,200 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 460 mean earnings: $57,120 | $35,480 | $45,530 | $55,990 | $68,970 | $82,110 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 2,400 mean earnings: $56,010 | $32,540 | $41,260 | $53,230 | $67,670 | $84,540 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 3,230 mean earnings: $57,510 | $35,420 | $44,120 | $55,160 | $68,880 | $84,430 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 8,350 mean earnings: $79,450 | $41,500 | $53,290 | $71,360 | $94,530 | $131,250 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 560 mean earnings: $61,230 | $35,700 | $46,300 | $57,730 | $72,640 | $89,450 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 1,380 mean earnings: $62,380 | $34,000 | $49,520 | $63,550 | $75,930 | $88,210 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 370 mean earnings: $52,960 | $33,810 | $40,800 | $50,920 | $62,700 | $75,280 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 710 mean earnings: $63,790 | $37,920 | $47,920 | $62,570 | $78,200 | $90,840 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 27,330 mean earnings: $69,940 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,560 | $50,050 | $66,780 | $87,090 | $109,510 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 17,900 mean earnings: $72,450 | $38,270 | $51,550 | $69,740 | $90,010 | $112,540 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 5,840 mean earnings: $63,560 | $37,520 | $47,870 | $60,990 | $76,810 | $94,120 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 3,590 mean earnings: $67,810 | $34,430 | $48,140 | $63,740 | $85,060 | $108,800 |
| Retail Trade employment: 10,510 mean earnings: $60,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,840 | $41,080 | $56,700 | $75,140 | $93,730 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 430 mean earnings: $56,790 | $30,620 | $39,870 | $54,110 | $73,560 | $88,730 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 150 mean earnings: $54,660 | $30,200 | $38,970 | $54,660 | $70,450 | $83,540 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 5,130 mean earnings: $64,650 | $31,760 | $44,170 | $60,870 | $81,560 | $101,820 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 250 mean earnings: $43,910 | $24,950 | $29,200 | $34,770 | $55,880 | $78,810 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 180 mean earnings: $48,120 | $28,730 | $33,300 | $44,680 | $60,950 | $73,580 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 450 mean earnings: $54,410 | $26,370 | $39,010 | $53,280 | $68,560 | $85,410 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 380 mean earnings: $58,610 | $31,150 | $42,540 | $57,200 | $74,110 | $88,630 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 330 mean earnings: $48,760 | $28,230 | $35,700 | $44,390 | $62,580 | $74,450 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 500 mean earnings: $41,610 | $24,010 | $25,940 | $30,220 | $46,820 | $73,960 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 2,590 mean earnings: $60,250 | $36,260 | $46,790 | $57,160 | $72,030 | $88,310 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 3,960 mean earnings: $63,190 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,830 | $50,370 | $62,580 | $75,310 | $89,110 |
| Air Transportation employment: 850 mean earnings: $63,960 | $47,890 | $53,610 | $63,280 | $74,630 | $86,090 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 410 mean earnings: $74,650 | $51,820 | $62,530 | $73,910 | $87,090 | $101,740 |
| Water Transportation employment: 290 mean earnings: $70,430 | $43,580 | $55,380 | $70,840 | $85,390 | $100,810 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 910 mean earnings: $56,280 | $33,040 | $43,200 | $54,310 | $68,110 | $83,140 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 880 mean earnings: $61,030 | $37,340 | $48,060 | $60,220 | $72,880 | $88,400 |
| Postal Service employment: 90 mean earnings: $78,460 | $59,860 | $67,150 | $77,660 | $87,170 | $100,550 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 330 mean earnings: $62,030 | $33,480 | $53,860 | $63,250 | $70,010 | $82,560 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 120 mean earnings: $57,930 | $35,760 | $45,210 | $56,970 | $70,490 | $84,990 |
| Information employment: 45,170 mean earnings: $71,040 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,440 | $51,500 | $68,660 | $88,200 | $109,000 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 21,640 mean earnings: $75,480 | $41,490 | $55,590 | $74,010 | $92,720 | $113,960 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 1,420 mean earnings: $70,110 | $39,540 | $50,720 | $66,520 | $85,520 | $106,760 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 680 mean earnings: $62,560 | $37,520 | $45,950 | $59,650 | $77,270 | $94,110 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 1,570 mean earnings: $67,240 | $34,560 | $45,360 | $61,540 | $81,880 | $109,970 |
| Telecommunications employment: 3,750 mean earnings: $69,220 | $43,150 | $52,750 | $67,160 | $84,860 | $102,480 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 15,750 mean earnings: $66,350 | $37,580 | $48,550 | $63,700 | $82,930 | $100,640 |
| Other Information Services employment: 340 mean earnings: $63,910 | $36,640 | $42,660 | $57,470 | $85,410 | $106,240 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 37,310 mean earnings: $68,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,390 | $52,260 | $66,940 | $84,170 | $101,360 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 210 mean earnings: $73,800 | $48,640 | $62,680 | $75,830 | $87,800 | $95,510 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 10,610 mean earnings: $69,260 | $40,360 | $51,980 | $67,880 | $85,300 | $102,520 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 5,960 mean earnings: $76,470 | $43,420 | $56,920 | $74,600 | $92,870 | $114,620 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 19,870 mean earnings: $66,320 | $41,220 | $51,270 | $64,480 | $80,010 | $94,370 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 670 mean earnings: $73,450 | $47,960 | $59,320 | $73,230 | $89,100 | $105,840 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 1,210 mean earnings: $58,470 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,820 | $39,940 | $56,790 | $74,910 | $91,290 |
| Real Estate employment: 660 mean earnings: $53,020 | $24,930 | $33,590 | $48,500 | $68,250 | $89,100 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 290 mean earnings: $65,450 | $36,900 | $50,930 | $65,770 | $80,670 | $92,970 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 260 mean earnings: $64,480 | $38,260 | $48,780 | $63,760 | $79,940 | $92,720 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 147,290 mean earnings: $69,610 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,250 | $48,340 | $64,880 | $85,000 | $108,750 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 147,290 mean earnings: $69,610 | $37,250 | $48,340 | $64,880 | $85,000 | $108,750 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 16,710 mean earnings: $65,460 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,240 | $50,180 | $63,730 | $79,190 | $93,010 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 16,710 mean earnings: $65,460 | $40,240 | $50,180 | $63,730 | $79,190 | $93,010 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 25,990 mean earnings: $71,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,950 | $48,580 | $65,280 | $86,330 | $114,050 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 25,880 mean earnings: $71,370 | $37,950 | $48,570 | $65,290 | $86,350 | $114,100 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 100 mean earnings: $67,740 | $39,250 | $51,110 | $64,270 | $81,860 | $96,810 |
| Educational Services employment: 16,890 mean earnings: $52,010 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,190 | $39,440 | $49,570 | $63,170 | $77,160 |
| Educational Services employment: 16,890 mean earnings: $52,010 | $32,190 | $39,440 | $49,570 | $63,170 | $77,160 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 5,470 mean earnings: $61,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,460 | $47,200 | $59,330 | $73,980 | $89,450 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 1,170 mean earnings: $63,500 | $37,700 | $47,590 | $61,320 | $78,860 | $92,490 |
| Hospitals employment: 3,760 mean earnings: $62,310 | $39,580 | $48,840 | $60,170 | $73,960 | $89,340 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 140 mean earnings: $51,120 | $30,730 | $38,370 | $47,480 | $63,290 | $77,600 |
| Social Assistance employment: 400 mean earnings: $50,470 | $30,990 | $34,880 | $45,910 | $64,340 | $78,360 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 400 mean earnings: $60,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,110 | $42,660 | $57,200 | $74,090 | $91,070 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 210 mean earnings: $62,340 | $35,770 | $45,990 | $60,110 | $75,980 | $94,070 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 120 mean earnings: $60,180 | $35,940 | $42,630 | $54,090 | $71,220 | $94,020 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 70 mean earnings: $54,530 | $29,200 | $37,160 | $51,770 | $73,810 | $85,560 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 260 mean earnings: $57,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,380 | $43,630 | $55,760 | $71,590 | $86,740 |
| Accommodation employment: 240 mean earnings: $58,330 | $35,500 | $43,530 | $56,400 | $72,400 | $87,260 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 4,480 mean earnings: $58,630 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,190 | $42,860 | $57,240 | $71,780 | $87,760 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 650 mean earnings: $48,830 | $25,220 | $31,130 | $43,870 | $65,800 | $80,100 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 450 mean earnings: $62,630 | $33,120 | $45,570 | $60,600 | $74,650 | $92,100 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 3,390 mean earnings: $59,960 | $37,140 | $44,930 | $58,330 | $72,310 | $88,040 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 16,450 mean earnings: $54,210 (def) (IG) | $36,550 | $43,460 | $52,650 | $64,120 | $74,870 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 16,450 mean earnings: $54,210 | $36,550 | $43,460 | $52,650 | $64,120 | $74,870 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.