Online Degrees in Software Development

The field of software development is actually a subset of the information technology sector. Software has become king in the world of computing as the capacity of hardware has exploded. Software is the brains behind everything a computer accomplishes. Without software, a computer is nothing but an empty box. Those in the field of software development actually design, create, code, and program the software the works in all kinds of computers. Keep in mind that software now runs on the computer in your washing machine, car, dishwasher, cell phone, and your home computer. It's everywhere.
Job Outlook in Software Development
The software development field is expected to have continued excellent growth over the next decade. A lot of this growth will be fueled by companies needing to increase their software network capabilities as more and more businesses increase their online presence. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between now and 2018 this field will increase by about 32 percent and add over 295,000 new jobs. There is some expectation for added competition in this career field from other countries like China and India. Those with degrees and experience in the latest technologies will be best prepared to take advantage of the excellent job potential in the field of software development.
High Salary Potential in Software Development
A graduate in software development has great potential to find a great job with a great salary. The average wage for a software applications developer in 2008 was between $67,000 and $104,000 annually. The average wage for a computer programmer in 2008 was between $52,000 and $89,000 annually according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Salaries were very dependent on experience and the educational background of the employee.
Educational Opportunities in the Software Development Field
Colleges and universities are currently offering amazing educational programs in the field of software development. Schools offer certification programs, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and master's degree in the field of software development. Students can also take advantage of excellent online course offerings in the field of software development. This allows students to take courses online on their own time and schedule. You never have to attend courses on campus. Also, those who are already working can continue to work and also obtain a new degree or further education by taking courses online.
If you are interested in earning a degree in Software Development, click here to request more information.
Software Development
Employment of computer software engineers is expected to increase by 32 percent in the next ten years. In addition, this occupation will see a large number of new jobs, with more than 295,000 created between 2008 and 2018. New growth is especially expected to arise from rapidly evolving technologies such as video gaming and mobile applications. Following are five separate degree concentrations in the field of Software Development with the salary expectations of each:
Software Engineering
In May 2008, median annual wages of wage-and-salary computer applications software engineers were $85,430. The middle 50 percent earned between $67,790 and $104,870. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $53,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $128,870.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer software engineers in May 2008 were as follows:
Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers- |
$93,740 |
| Software publishers |
$87,710 |
| Management of companies and enterprises |
$85,990 |
| Computer systems design and related services |
$84,610 |
| Insurance carriers |
$80,370 |
For more details and geographic statistics you can view the Occupational and Employment Wages related for Computer Software Engineers by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Payscale.com offers additional data on salaries, geographic saturations, and job postings for Software Development and you can view some charts and graphs related to this position at Indeed.com.
Software Applications
Average Software Applications Developer salaries for job postings nationwide are 26% higher than average salaries for all job postings nationwide. Median annual wages of software application developers were $90,410 in May 2010. The middle 50 percent earned between $69,090 and $109,210. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $54,360, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $133,110.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of software application developers in May 2010 were as follows:
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
$91,240 |
| Software Publishers |
$94,950 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises |
$88,490 |
| Insurance Carriers |
$84,600 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing |
$105,480 |
For more details and geographic statistics you can view the Occupational and Employment Wages related to Software Applications Developer by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. You can also view some charts and graphs related to this position at Indeed.com.
Software Systems
Average Software Systems salaries for job postings nationwide are 12% higher than average salaries for all job postings nationwide. Median annual wages of software systems developers were $97,960 in May 2010. The middle 50 percent earned between $75,720 and $117,670. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $143,330.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of software systems developers in May 2010 were as follows:
Scientific Research and Development Services$101,960
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
$96,830 |
| Software Publishers |
$100,840 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing |
$108,650 |
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
$102,920 |
For more details and geographic statistics you can view the Occupational and Employment Wages related for Systems Software Developers by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Payscale.com offers additional data on salaries, geographic saturations, and job postings for Systems Software jobs and you can view some charts and graphs related to this position at Indeed.com.
Game Software Development
The average Game Software Developer salary for job postings nationwide are 30% higher than average salaries for all job postings nationwide. The average salary as of July 2011 was $95,000 depending on job title, responsibilities, and years of experience. Salaries in this field have been steadily climbing since July 2009.
Game Designer jobs encompass varying career paths from Gaming to Audio/Video Entertainment to Slot Machines and Gaming Machines. Following are some salary ranges by industry as of July 2011:
| Entertainment or Game Software |
$34,883 - $72,439 |
| Audio/Video/Entertainment Production |
$38,654 - $79,834 |
| Toys/Games |
$34,622 - $80,533 |
| Video Game Machines |
$40,000 - $106,000 |
| Gaming Products |
$48,611 - $70,000 |
| Slot Machines/Gaming Machines |
$50,500 - $81,472 |
Payscale.com offers additional data on salaries, geographic saturations, and job postings for Video Game Designers and you can view some charts and graphs related to this position at Indeed.com. You can also view additional salary informationat SimplyHired.com.
Mobile Software Development
According to a report funded by Bluewolf, an IT consulting and staffing agency with branches in New York, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, mobile software developers are in and will continue to be in high demand. According to the report, 2011 mobile application developers will be sought after by companies fueled by an influx of venture capital and a demand for new skill sets including iPhone, iPad, Facebook, and Android development chops, as well as expertise in Flash, Flex, PHP, Amazon Web Services, and Salesforce.com.
In-demand jobs and their anticipated average salary ranges are as follows:
| Flash developers: |
$80,000 - $100,000 |
| Flex developers: |
$85,000 - $110,000 |
| PHP/LAMP developers: |
$75,000 - $110,000 |
| Ruby on Rails developers: |
$85,000 - $110,000 |
| CRM Developers: |
$90,000 - $120,000 |
| iPad developers: |
$98,000 - $120,000 |
| iPhone developers: |
$94,000 - $115,000 |
| Android developers: |
$97,000 - $120,000 |
For more information regarding the salaries on the rise for mobile developers, you can read the report at InfoWorld.com.