What's the Career Outlook for Software Developers? A Look at the Next 10 Years

The United States still currently leads the world in the number of software developers with over 23 million total.

Why are so many people fumbling over each other to get into this job?

Career outlook is one big reason, but you might wonder whether the competition is worth it or not. No matter what job you pursue, it's important to do your due diligence and research the future growth.

Today, we'll take a closer look at the outlook for software developers for the next 10 years!

What are Software Developers?

Think about a smartphone app that you couldn't live without or a video game that hooked you. You benefited from the hard work of software developers.

They create digital programs used on computers, smart devices, etc. that fulfill needs or wants.

Software developers have two main groups: application software developers and systems software developers. Application developers mainly create software that solves a problem, provides a service, etc.

Applications can be consumer- or enterprise-level. All application development keeps the customers' needs in mind, allowing for future development.

Systems developers, on the other hand, focus on creating systems in which applications run. A computer's operating system is a good and common example of this.

Outlook for Growth

One important factor to pay attention to is the outlook for job growth. Even if you're interested in a career path it doesn't mean that you should dive in headfirst.

If that career isn't viable a decade from now, what was the point? That's a lot of wasted time and effort.

Thankfully, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the software engineer job outlook should grow 24 percent in the next decade. That's much faster than average, meaning there will be more and more jobs available to you as time goes on.

What Software Development Takes

Many application software developers will pursue a college degree. Usually, it will be in computer sciences, engineering, something similar, or a combination.

This type of education isn't a requirement, though. Proof of the development skills themselves is all that employers seek most of the time.

One of the most important requirements for the job is the ability to write in at least one programming language. Mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities are also highly sought after.

Many developers need to fulfill customer needs and even identify them in some cases. For example, you may need to help determine whether a business's functions should be automated or not.

You can find much of this information in books and online. That's why some software developers are self-taught. Still, others need the rigid structure of traditional courses taught in person or online.

Explore the Software Development Career Path

As you can see, software developers still have it made in the shade. Relatively speaking, it's still a new industry, and job growth is fast and on the rise.

There are a few different subsets to being a developer and there are many ways to get there. Whether you pursue traditional or solo education, it's important to understand your job forecast.

If you're interested in learning more about this career path, check out some more of our helpful posts, such as these programming book suggestions!