What Do Software Developers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for software developers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what software developers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Software Developers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about software developers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Software Developers research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
Popular Job Titles For Software Developers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Software Engineers
- Software Developers
- DevOps Engineers
- Java Developers
- Full Stack Developers
- .NET Developers
- Solutions Architects
- Principal Software Engineers
- Application Developers
- Full Stack Software Engineers
- Embedded Software Engineers
- Lead Software Engineers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for software developers can be found.
Best Industries for Software Developers
Software Developers Jobs By Industry
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 32.2%
- Software Publishers: 9.9%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 4.8%
- Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services: 4.5%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 3.5%
- Scientific Research and Development Services: 2.9%
- Other: 42.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of software developers can be found working in the Computer Systems Design and Related Services sector. In 2023, about 32.2% of all jobs for software developers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Software Publishers (9.9%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (4.8%), Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services (4.5%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3.5%) and Scientific Research and Development Services (2.9%).
What Do Software Developers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what software developers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work software developers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that software developers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for software developers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Software Developers
Based on 764,542 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Software Developers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 290,694 | 38% |
| Software Engineering | 249,908 | 33% |
| Agile Methodology | 244,043 | 32% |
| Software Development | 222,267 | 29% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 216,618 | 28% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Software Developers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 259,895 | 34% |
| Management | 157,775 | 21% |
| Problem Solving | 154,589 | 20% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 141,661 | 19% |
| Leadership | 114,269 | 15% |
Based on 764,542 job postings related to software developers, computer science was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 38% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for software engineering, agile methodology, software development, java (programming language) and sql (programming language) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for software developers, followed by management, problem solving, troubleshooting (problem solving), leadership and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 290,694 | 38% |
| Software Engineering | 249,908 | 33% |
| Agile Methodology | 244,043 | 32% |
| Software Development | 222,267 | 29% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 216,618 | 28% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 185,067 | 24% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 175,902 | 23% |
| JavaScript (Programming Language) | 170,835 | 22% |
| Amazon Web Services | 159,026 | 21% |
| Application Programming Interface (API) | 152,829 | 20% |
| Automation | 131,830 | 17% |
| Debugging | 119,857 | 16% |
| DevOps | 118,352 | 15% |
| C# (Programming Language) | 116,494 | 15% |
| Git (Version Control System) | 112,205 | 15% |
| CI/CD | 111,931 | 15% |
| Microsoft Azure | 111,177 | 15% |
| Scalability | 105,169 | 14% |
| Scrum (Software Development) | 98,977 | 13% |
| RESTful API | 97,113 | 13% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 259,895 | 34% |
| Management | 157,775 | 21% |
| Problem Solving | 154,589 | 20% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 141,661 | 19% |
| Leadership | 114,269 | 15% |
| Operations | 104,279 | 14% |
| Writing | 89,228 | 12% |
| Planning | 87,260 | 11% |
| Innovation | 83,111 | 11% |
| Research | 72,070 | 9% |
| Information Technology | 69,371 | 9% |
| Mentorship | 67,911 | 9% |
| Self-Motivation | 65,588 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 65,385 | 9% |
| Mathematics | 59,416 | 8% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 57,667 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 57,400 | 8% |
| Sales | 54,932 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 50,164 | 7% |
| Presentations | 45,947 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Software Developers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineers | 173,120 | 29.8% |
| Software Developers | 44,692 | 7.7% |
| DevOps Engineers | 33,970 | 5.8% |
| Java Developers | 29,576 | 5.1% |
| Full Stack Developers | 28,206 | 4.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was software engineers, with 72,776 unique job postings. Software developers were second, with 18,575 postings, followed by devops engineers, java developers and full stack developers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to software developers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineers | 173,120 | 29.8% |
| Software Developers | 44,692 | 7.7% |
| DevOps Engineers | 33,970 | 5.8% |
| Java Developers | 29,576 | 5.1% |
| Full Stack Developers | 28,206 | 4.8% |
| .NET Developers | 23,941 | 4.1% |
| Solutions Architects | 22,963 | 3.9% |
| Principal Software Engineers | 30,845 | 5.3% |
| Application Developers | 20,369 | 3.5% |
| Full Stack Software Engineers | 20,783 | 3.6% |
| Embedded Software Engineers | 24,973 | 4.3% |
| Lead Software Engineers | 21,244 | 3.7% |
| Salesforce Developers | 13,927 | 2.4% |
| Application Engineers | 19,494 | 3.4% |
| Full Stack Java Developers | 11,671 | 2% |
| Software Engineering Managers | 17,022 | 2.9% |
| Python Developers | 10,409 | 1.8% |
| Full Stack Engineers | 12,972 | 2.2% |
| Java Engineers | 10,524 | 1.8% |
| Staff Software Engineers | 11,094 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for software developers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for software developers.
How much do software developers make?
Software Developers: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.