 | The examples and perspective in this United States may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.(September 2021) |
Software engineers form a noticeable part of the workforce around the world. There are an estimated 26.9 million professional software engineers in the world as of 2022, up from 21 million in 2016. [1] [2]
In 2022, there were an estimated 4.4 million professional software engineers in North America. There are 152 million people employed in the US workforce, making software engineers 2.54% of the total workforce. [1] [2] [3] The total above is an increase compared to around 3.87 million software engineers employed in 2016.
 | This article needs to be updated.(May 2021) |
Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2002, about 612,000 software engineers worked in the U.S. – about one out of every 200 workers. There were 55% to 60% as many software engineers as all traditional engineers. This comparison holds true for practitioners, managers, educators, or technicians/programmers. Software engineering had 612,000 practitioners: 264,790 managers, 16,495 educators, and 457,320 programmers.
| Role | # | SE Title | # | TE Title | Ratio of SE to TE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practitioners | 611,900 | Software Engineers | 1,157,020 | Traditional Engineers | 53% |
| Managers | 264,790 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | 413,750 | Engineering Managers + Construction Managers | 64% |
| Educators | 16,495 | Computer Science (practical) | 29,310 | Engineering Teachers | 56% |
| Technicians | 457,320 | Computer Programmers | 516,170 | Engineering Technicians | 88% |
The following two tables compare the number of software engineers (611,900 in 2002) versus the number of traditional engineers (1,157,020 in 2002).
There are another 1,500,000 people in system analysis, system administration, and computer support, many of whom might be called software engineers. Many systems analysts manage software development teams, and as analysis is an important software engineering role, many of them may be considered software engineers in the near future. This means that the number of software engineers may actually be much higher.
It is important to note that the number of software engineers declined by 5 to 10 percent from 2000 to 2002.
| Code | Description | Number (2002) | Hourly pay (2002) | Annual salary (2002) | Number (2021) | Mean Hourly pay (2021) | Mean Annual salary (2021) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-1031 | Software Eng., Applications | 356,760 | $34.09 | $35.48 | $73,800 | 0.7 % | |||
| 15-1032 | Software Eng., Systems Software | 255,040 | $35.60 | $36.46 | $75,840 | 0.6 % | |||
| 17-2011 | Aerospace Engineers [8] | 74,210 | $34.97 | $35.63 | $74,110 | 1.1 % | 56,640 | $ 59.12 | $ 122,970 |
| 17-2021 | Agricultural Engineers [9] | 2,500 | $24.38 | $26.79 | $55,730 | 2.9 % | 1,120 | $ 41.99 | $ 87,350 |
| 17-2031 | Biomedical Engineers [10] | 7,130 | $29.04 | $30.97 | $64,420 | 1.7 % | 17,190 | $ 48.57 | $ 101,020 |
| 17-2041 | Chemical Engineers [11] | 32,110 | $34.85 | $36.06 | $75,010 | 1.0 % | 24,180 | $ 58.58 | $ 121,840 |
| 17-2051 | Civil Engineers [12] | 207,480 | $28.88 | $30.29 | $63,010 | 0.4 % | 304,310 | $ 45.91 | $ 95,490 |
| 17-2061 | Computer Hardware Engineers [13] | 67,180 | $34.69 | $36.61 | $76,150 | 1.1 % | 73,750 | $ 65.50 | $ 136,230 |
| 17-2071 | Electrical Engineers [14] | 146,180 | $32.78 | $33.88 | $70,480 | 0.4 % | 186,020 | $ 51.87 | $ 107,890 |
| 17-2072 | Electronics Eng., Exc. Computer [15] | 126,020 | $33.62 | $34.43 | $71,600 | 0.6 % | 107,170 | $ 55.53 | $ 115,490 |
| 17-2081 | Environmental Engineers [16] | 45,720 | $29.52 | $30.50 | $63,440 | 0.7 % | 42,660 | $ 48.18 | $ 100,220 |
| 17-2111 | Health and Safety, Exc. Mining [17] | 34,160 | $27.89 | $28.77 | $59,830 | 0.7 % | 22,870 | $ 47.93 | $ 99,700 |
| 17-2112 | Industrial Engineers [18] | 151,760 | $29.88 | $30.57 | $63,590 | 0.3 % | 293,950 | $ 45.77 | $ 95,200 |
| 17-2121 | Marine Eng., Naval Architects [19] | 4,810 | $32.04 | $32.83 | $68,280 | 2.2 % | 7,380 | $ 47.03 | $ 97,820 |
| 17-2131 | Materials Engineers [20] | 22,780 | $30.09 | $30.92 | $64,310 | 1.0 % | 21,530 | $ 49.02 | $ 101,950 |
| 17-2141 | Mechanical Engineers [21] | 203,620 | $30.23 | $31.33 | $65,170 | 0.4 % | 278,240 | $ 46.64 | $ 97,000 |
| 17-2151 | Mining and Geological Eng. [22] | 5,050 | $29.70 | $31.14 | $64,770 | 2.4 % | 7,370 | $ 48.29 | $ 100,450 |
| 17-2161 | Nuclear Engineers [23] | 15,180 | $39.11 | $39.57 | $82,300 | 1.3 % | 12,670 | $ 58.54 | $ 121,760 |
| 17-2171 | Petroleum Engineers [24] | 11,130 | $40.08 | $41.13 | $85,540 | 1.4 % | 22,100 | $ 70.06 | $ 145,720 |
Computer and information system managers (264,790) manage software projects, as well as computer operations. Similarly, Construction and engineering managers (413,750) oversee engineering projects, manufacturing plants, and construction sites. Computer management is 64% the size of construction and engineering management.
| Code | Description | Number | Hourly pay | Annual salary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-3021 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | 264,790 | $40.98 | $43.48 | $90,440 | 0.3% |
| 11-9021 | Construction Managers | 208,360 | $30.53 | $34.24 | $71,210 | 0.7% |
| 11-9041 | Engineering Managers | 205,390 | $43.71 | $46.03 | $95,750 | 0.3% |
[ citation needed ]
 | This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia.(January 2014) |
Most people working in the field of computer science, whether making software systems (software engineering) or studying the theoretical and mathematical facts of software systems (computer science), acquire degrees in computer science. The data shows that the combined number of chemistry and physics educators (29,610) nearly equals the number of engineering educators (29,310). It is estimated that roughly half of computer science educators emphasize the practical (software engineering), and the other half emphasize the theoretical (computer science).[ citation needed ] This means that software engineering education is 56% the size of traditional engineering education. There are more computer science educators than chemistry and physics educators combined, or engineering educators.
| Code | Description | Number | Hourly pay | Annual salary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1021 | Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 32,990 | (4) | (4) | $55,330 | 1.1% |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 29,310 | (4) | (4) | $73,100 | 1.3% |
| 25-1052 | Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 17,670 | (4) | (4) | $60,800 | 1.3% |
| 25-1054 | Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 11,940 | (4) | (4) | $66,960 | 1.0 |
[ citation needed ]
| Code | Description | Number | Hourly pay | Annual salary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-1051 | Computer Systems Analysts | 467,750 | $30.24 | $31.20 | $64,890 | 0.5% |
| 15-1041 | Computer Support Specialists | 478,560 | $18.80 | $20.35 | $42,320 | 0.5% |
| 15-1061 | Database Administrators | 102,090 | $26.68 | $28.41 | $59,080 | 0.5% |
| 15-1071 | Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 232,560 | $26.35 | $27.70 | $57,620 | 0.4% |
| 15-1081 | Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts | 133,460 | $28.09 | $29.51 | $61,390 | 0.6% |
| 17-3011 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 101,190 | $17.95 | $18.78 | $39,060 | 0.6% |
| 17-3012 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 35,470 | $19.76 | $21.16 | $44,020 | 0.8% |
| 17-3013 | Mechanical Drafters | 68,280 | $19.58 | $20.71 | $43,080 | 0.9% |
[ citation needed ]
Software engineers are part of the much larger software, hardware, application, and operations community. In 2000 in the U.S., there were about 680,000 software engineers and about 10,000,000 IT workers.
There are no numbers on testers in the BLS data.[ citation needed ]
There has been a healthy growth in the number of India's IT professionals over the past few years. From a base of 6,800 knowledge workers in 1985–86, the number increased to 522,000 software and services professionals by the end of 2001–02. It is estimated that out of these 528,000 knowledge workers, almost 170,000 are working in the IT software and services export industry; nearly 106,000 are working in the IT enabled services and over 230,000 in user organizations. [25]
In May 2024, the Australian government reported that 169,300 Australians are employed as software and applications programmers, 17% of who are women. The role grew annually by 8,300 workers. [26]
Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and the development of both hardware and software. Computing has scientific, engineering, mathematical, technological, and social aspects. Major computing disciplines include computer engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, data science, information systems, information technology, and software engineering.
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is an author of computer source code – someone with skill in computer programming.
Software engineering is an engineering approach to software development. A practitioner, a software engineer, applies the engineering design process to develop software.
Computer engineering is a branch of computer science and electronic engineering that integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineering is referred to as computer science and engineering at some universities.
Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. Exploration and production are deemed to fall within the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Exploration, by earth scientists, and petroleum engineering are the oil and gas industry's two main subsurface disciplines, which focus on maximizing economic recovery of hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs. Petroleum geology and geophysics focus on provision of a static description of the hydrocarbon reservoir rock, while petroleum engineering focuses on estimation of the recoverable volume of this resource using a detailed understanding of the physical behavior of oil, water and gas within porous rock at very high pressure.
Construction is a general term meaning the art and science of forming objects, systems, or organizations. It comes from the Latin word constructio and Old French construction. To 'construct' is a verb: the act of building, and the noun is construction: how something is built or the nature of its structure.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to software engineering:
The labor force is the actual number of people available for work and is the sum of the employed and the unemployed. The U.S. labor force reached a high of 164.6 million persons in February 2020, just at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Before the pandemic, the U.S. labor force had risen each year since 1960 with the exception of the period following the Great Recession, when it remained below 2008 levels from 2009 to 2011. In 2021, The Great Resignation resulted in record numbers in voluntary turn over for American workers.
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An application program is a computer program designed to carry out a specific task other than one relating to the operation of the computer itself, typically to be used by end-users. Word processors, media players, and accounting software are examples. The collective noun "application software" refers to all applications collectively. The other principal classifications of software are system software, relating to the operation of the computer, and utility software ("utilities").
Software engineering professionalism is a movement to make software engineering a profession, with aspects such as degree and certification programs, professional associations, professional ethics, and government licensing. The field is a licensed discipline in Texas in the United States, Engineers Australia(Course Accreditation since 2001, not Licensing), and many provinces in Davao.
The history of software engineering begins around the 1960s. Writing software has evolved into a profession concerned with how best to maximize the quality of software and of how to create it. Quality can refer to how maintainable software is, to its stability, speed, usability, testability, readability, size, cost, security, and number of flaws or "bugs", as well as to less measurable qualities like elegance, conciseness, and customer satisfaction, among many other attributes. How best to create high quality software is a separate and controversial problem covering software design principles, so-called "best practices" for writing code, as well as broader management issues such as optimal team size, process, how best to deliver software on time and as quickly as possible, work-place "culture", hiring practices, and so forth. All this falls under the broad rubric of software engineering.
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System is a United States government system for classifying occupations. It is used by U.S. federal government agencies collecting occupational data, enabling comparison of occupations across data sets. It is designed to cover all occupations in which work is performed for pay or profit, reflecting the current occupational structure in the United States. The 2010 SOC includes 840 occupational types.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is an umbrella term used to group together the distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The term is typically used in the context of education policy or curriculum choices in schools. It has implications for workforce development, national security concerns, and immigration policy, with regard to admitting foreign students and tech workers.
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A Bachelor of Software Engineering HonoursBSEHons is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completing a program of study in the field of software development for computers in information technology.
A systems analyst, also known as business technology analyst, is an information technology (IT) professional who specializes in analyzing, designing and implementing information systems. Systems analysts assess the suitability of information systems in terms of their intended outcomes and liaise with end users, software vendors and programmers in order to achieve these outcomes. A systems analyst is a person who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information technology. Systems analysts may serve as change agents who identify the organizational improvements needed, design systems to implement those changes, and train and motivate others to use the systems.
Green jobs are, according to the United Nations Environment Program, "work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute(s) substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution." The environmental sector has the dual benefit of mitigating environmental challenges as well as helping economic growth.
Unemployment in the United States discusses the causes and measures of U.S. unemployment and strategies for reducing it. Job creation and unemployment are affected by factors such as economic conditions, global competition, education, automation, and demographics. These factors can affect the number of workers, the duration of unemployment, and wage levels.
Rigetti Computing, Inc. is a Berkeley, California-based developer of quantum integrated circuits used for quantum computers. The company also develops a cloud platform called Forest that enables programmers to write quantum algorithms.