What's the Typical Software Developer Career Path? A Guide for Mid-Level Professionals

Being a software developer can take you down a multitude of roads.

The software development field is constantly expanding and there are more options now than ever before.

Because of these options, figuring out which software developer career path is best for you can be a bit of a daunting task.

Thankfully, we're here to help!

In this article, we'll discuss a few of the different software developer jobs that are out there and help you decide which one suits you the best.

Now then, let's get started!

Junior Developer

If you've been working as a software developer for a few years or more, you've most likely surpassed the junior developer position already.

The junior developer gig is the entry-level position where everyone begins their software developer journey. Expectations include the ability to write simple scripts, as well as a basic understanding of applications and how they work.

Senior Developer

After getting a few years of programming experience under your belt, you'll have the option to become a senior developer. As a senior developer, you'll be responsible for writing more complex code, as well as creating entire applications.

You can expect to spend a long time as a senior developer, as it takes some grinding to move up the ladder even further. Some people, especially those who don't desire to be in a managerial role, spend their entire careers as a senior developer.

Lead Developers

Lead developers are responsible for designing and planning the entire application creation process. A lot of the lead developer's ideas will be brought to life by lower-level developers, though they're still very much hands-on as well.

Management Position

Many software development companies are run by former software developers. So if running the entire place is something you'd be interested in, and you're willing to put in the work, it's certainly possible.

The position is pretty self-explanatory. You'd be in charge of setting long-term goals for the company and determining the best strategies to achieve those goals, as well as keeping up with the latest software engineering trends.

Also, you'd be over the entire developmental team, as well as any other non-development related departments. Obviously it's a lot of responsibility, which is why many people don't find the position desirable.

Freelance Developer

Being your own boss is a lot of people's dream. If you're a highly skilled software developer who has what it takes to work for yourself, that's absolutely an option you should consider.

Outside of working in management, being a freelance developer requires the most work. You'll be in charge of everything, from finding clients to creating applications, to collecting payment. Your success, or failure, is completely up to you.

Choosing Your Software Developer Career Path

Now that you've got a better understanding of the average software developer career path, you're all set!

You can decide where you want to go next as a software developer, as well as what your long term goals are in regards to the position you'd like to end up with and go from there.

Perhaps you're getting ready to go to school for software development. Or maybe you just started out and aren't quite sure what's next for you and your journey. It's never too early to start planning for the future, so set goals and go after them!

Be sure to check out our blog, where you'll find more software development tips and tricks.