Computer software engineers, applications
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Computer Software Engineers, Applications: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
Computer software engineers held about 800,000 jobs in 2004. Approximately 460,000 were computer applications software engineers, and around 340,000 were computer systems software engineers. Although they are employed in most industries, the largest concentration of computer software engineers—almost 30 percent—are in computer systems design and related services. Many computer software engineers also work for establishments in other industries, such as software publishers, government agencies, manufacturers of computers and related electronic equipment, and management of companies and enterprises.
Employers of computer software engineers range from startup companies to established industry leaders. The proliferation of Internet, e-mail, and other communications systems is expanding electronics to engineering firms that are traditionally associated with unrelated disciplines. Engineering firms specializing in building bridges and powerplants, for example, hire computer software engineers to design and develop new geographic data systems and automated drafting systems. Communications firms need computer software engineers to tap into growth in the personal communications market. Major communications companies have many job openings for both computer software applications engineers and computer systems engineers.
An increasing number of computer software engineers are employed on a temporary or contract basis, with many being self-employed, working independently as consultants. Some consultants work for firms that specialize in developing and maintaining client companies’ Web sites and intranets. About 23,000 computer software engineers were self-employed in 2004.
Median annual earnings of computer applications software engineers who worked full time in May 2004 were about $74,980. The middle 50 percent earned between $59,130and $92,130. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,520, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $113,830. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer applications software engineers in May 2004 were as follows:
| Software publishers | $79,930 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 78,460 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 76,910 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 70,520 |
| Insurance carriers | 68,440 |
Median annual earnings of computer systems software engineers who worked full time in May 2004 were about $79,740. The middle 50 percent earned between $63,150 and $98,220. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $118,350. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer systems software engineers in May 2004 are as follows:
| Scientific research and development services | $91,390 |
| Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing | 87,800 |
| Software publishers | 83,670 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 79,950 |
| Wired telecommunications carriers | 74,370 |
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering averaged $52,464 in 2005; offers for those with a master’s degree averaged $60,354. Starting salary offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science averaged $50,820.
According to Robert Half International, starting salaries for software engineers in software development ranged from $63,250 to $92,750 in 2005. For network engineers, starting salaries in 2005 ranged from $61,250 to $88,250.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer Software Engineers)
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 software engineers, applications | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Utilities employment: 2,400 mean earnings: $76,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $50,910 | $61,340 | $74,750 | $90,070 | $107,040 |
| Utilities employment: 2,400 mean earnings: $76,150 | $50,910 | $61,340 | $74,750 | $90,070 | $107,040 |
| Construction employment: 560 mean earnings: $68,790 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,830 | $51,200 | $66,130 | $84,500 | $98,140 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 90 mean earnings: $71,370 | $41,410 | $51,860 | $70,780 | $85,510 | $101,130 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 60 mean earnings: $73,220 | $50,080 | $57,050 | $76,130 | $87,630 | $99,260 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 410 mean earnings: $67,560 | $40,890 | $50,260 | $63,750 | $83,350 | $97,390 |
| Manufacturing employment: 63,100 mean earnings: $84,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $52,950 | $66,600 | $83,520 | $102,040 | $117,940 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 410 mean earnings: $74,850 | $49,490 | $59,060 | $76,840 | $89,740 | $104,160 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 200 mean earnings: $74,180 | $48,690 | $61,060 | $77,250 | $88,400 | $96,310 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: n.a. mean earnings: $64,410 | $48,510 | $52,890 | $60,610 | $71,650 | $90,840 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 180 mean earnings: $59,850 | $28,570 | $43,650 | $60,640 | $77,370 | $87,990 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 150 mean earnings: $65,120 | $48,120 | $53,420 | $63,270 | $75,720 | $90,220 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 290 mean earnings: $62,150 | $36,650 | $50,440 | $63,540 | $74,400 | $87,650 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 1,790 mean earnings: $81,410 | $51,720 | $63,830 | $80,070 | $97,000 | $116,190 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 300 mean earnings: $70,210 | $43,250 | $52,870 | $67,090 | $84,200 | $100,690 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 120 mean earnings: $66,730 | $45,000 | $54,280 | $65,930 | $79,400 | $91,310 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 150 mean earnings: $67,300 | $42,900 | $53,050 | $67,050 | $81,440 | $93,930 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 500 mean earnings: $67,750 | $47,350 | $55,290 | $66,740 | $80,310 | $91,800 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 4,210 mean earnings: $80,120 | $52,280 | $63,490 | $78,440 | $95,460 | $112,530 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 41,800 mean earnings: $87,620 | $54,490 | $69,130 | $86,300 | $105,650 | $121,490 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 970 mean earnings: $75,630 | $48,970 | $58,480 | $73,240 | $89,110 | $108,790 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 10,590 mean earnings: $81,030 | $52,910 | $65,800 | $81,190 | $95,700 | $112,480 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 1,110 mean earnings: $79,440 | $52,890 | $64,110 | $78,660 | $93,210 | $112,280 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 17,520 mean earnings: $80,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,300 | $62,590 | $78,490 | $96,710 | $114,980 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 13,580 mean earnings: $81,020 | $49,830 | $63,110 | $79,030 | $97,930 | $115,250 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 1,340 mean earnings: $75,560 | $47,600 | $59,390 | $73,670 | $89,000 | $107,020 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 2,610 mean earnings: $80,640 | $47,490 | $61,640 | $78,440 | $95,820 | $116,630 |
| Retail Trade employment: 4,150 mean earnings: $76,080 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,320 | $57,210 | $74,560 | $90,920 | $112,210 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 160 mean earnings: $65,190 | $43,670 | $52,540 | $66,850 | $79,430 | $88,120 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 2,580 mean earnings: $76,790 | $40,570 | $55,920 | $76,330 | $91,930 | $113,880 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: n.a. mean earnings: $72,410 | $50,110 | $56,450 | $71,040 | $87,170 | $102,730 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 230 mean earnings: $78,340 | $45,850 | $60,700 | $75,470 | $92,700 | $115,860 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 1,010 mean earnings: $76,730 | $49,150 | $60,500 | $72,980 | $91,000 | $111,440 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 2,120 mean earnings: $72,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $52,150 | $61,830 | $71,120 | $85,460 | $96,600 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 270 mean earnings: $84,090 | $61,380 | $73,970 | $85,580 | $97,300 | $112,060 |
| Water Transportation employment: n.a. mean earnings: $82,000 | $59,140 | $68,900 | $83,450 | $98,600 | $111,020 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 310 mean earnings: $69,690 | $48,960 | $56,580 | $69,640 | $84,110 | $93,180 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 380 mean earnings: $72,200 | $49,320 | $60,220 | $69,380 | $83,900 | $99,640 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 260 mean earnings: $65,150 | $55,330 | $60,190 | $65,330 | $70,470 | $79,070 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 130 mean earnings: $72,820 | $51,590 | $62,150 | $74,170 | $85,430 | $93,430 |
| Information employment: 79,510 mean earnings: $80,180 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,920 | $62,020 | $78,300 | $95,340 | $115,800 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 44,490 mean earnings: $82,210 | $49,380 | $63,320 | $80,290 | $98,340 | $118,570 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 220 mean earnings: $77,990 | $46,170 | $58,900 | $76,770 | $92,760 | $112,190 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 800 mean earnings: $72,850 | $44,850 | $57,280 | $71,390 | $88,290 | $106,740 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 2,190 mean earnings: $78,580 | $47,640 | $61,370 | $77,710 | $93,620 | $114,060 |
| Telecommunications employment: 12,360 mean earnings: $77,070 | $50,110 | $61,700 | $75,950 | $91,090 | $108,480 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 19,220 mean earnings: $78,050 | $47,530 | $59,980 | $75,450 | $93,900 | $114,660 |
| Other Information Services employment: 230 mean earnings: $76,620 | $47,190 | $58,480 | $74,160 | $91,640 | $110,020 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 38,920 mean earnings: $79,470 (EC) (def) (IG) | $50,620 | $62,590 | $77,230 | $93,060 | $113,700 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 390 mean earnings: $80,170 | $53,980 | $66,550 | $81,330 | $95,650 | $110,340 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 8,390 mean earnings: $76,190 | $47,300 | $59,950 | $75,700 | $91,270 | $110,100 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 12,080 mean earnings: $90,530 | $57,320 | $69,750 | $87,250 | $108,790 | $131,990 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 17,250 mean earnings: $73,350 | $49,650 | $60,440 | $72,300 | $86,410 | $99,860 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 800 mean earnings: $78,360 | $49,870 | $63,130 | $78,100 | $92,360 | $111,820 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 890 mean earnings: $84,420 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,650 | $63,600 | $83,510 | $103,820 | $119,710 |
| Real Estate employment: 140 mean earnings: $74,000 | $46,750 | $54,800 | $68,080 | $87,020 | $107,340 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 300 mean earnings: $83,040 | $47,270 | $70,630 | $84,540 | $99,890 | $114,860 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 450 mean earnings: $88,670 | $52,190 | $65,700 | $87,900 | $109,760 | $127,960 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 189,850 mean earnings: $80,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,300 | $58,890 | $76,990 | $96,310 | $120,010 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 189,850 mean earnings: $80,150 | $45,300 | $58,890 | $76,990 | $96,310 | $120,010 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 21,330 mean earnings: $76,210 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,640 | $61,250 | $75,320 | $90,100 | $108,260 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 21,330 mean earnings: $76,210 | $49,640 | $61,250 | $75,320 | $90,100 | $108,260 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 10,040 mean earnings: $79,270 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,870 | $57,150 | $76,270 | $97,380 | $118,340 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 9,750 mean earnings: $79,600 | $44,990 | $57,210 | $76,520 | $98,150 | $118,830 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 280 mean earnings: $67,970 | $39,590 | $54,550 | $70,290 | $84,330 | $93,020 |
| Educational Services employment: 7,360 mean earnings: $60,790 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,410 | $47,510 | $59,180 | $72,060 | $87,250 |
| Educational Services employment: 7,360 mean earnings: $60,790 | $39,410 | $47,510 | $59,180 | $72,060 | $87,250 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 5,580 mean earnings: $69,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,230 | $54,900 | $68,150 | $83,420 | $95,160 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 1,700 mean earnings: $70,420 | $46,340 | $56,700 | $70,920 | $84,900 | $94,230 |
| Hospitals employment: 3,610 mean earnings: $68,580 | $45,020 | $54,180 | $66,830 | $82,150 | $95,550 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 50 mean earnings: $64,750 | $45,740 | $52,910 | $64,490 | $78,030 | $88,770 |
| Social Assistance employment: 210 mean earnings: $72,160 | $41,190 | $55,750 | $73,380 | $88,800 | $106,260 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 70 mean earnings: $63,590 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,490 | $46,760 | $65,260 | $77,610 | $99,320 |
| Accommodation employment: 40 mean earnings: $58,810 | $27,420 | $33,120 | $51,720 | $83,240 | $107,600 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 1,080 mean earnings: $76,190 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,540 | $59,420 | $72,700 | $90,890 | $111,060 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 320 mean earnings: $84,350 | $45,940 | $63,970 | $80,450 | $103,500 | $122,180 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 100 mean earnings: $73,200 | $47,390 | $57,920 | $70,450 | $88,320 | $107,670 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 650 mean earnings: $72,590 | $47,890 | $57,730 | $70,340 | $86,720 | $103,760 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 10,990 mean earnings: $61,760 (def) (IG) | $40,960 | $50,370 | $61,780 | $71,720 | $85,730 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 10,990 mean earnings: $61,760 | $40,960 | $50,370 | $61,780 | $71,720 | $85,730 |
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.