U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCreate, modify, and test the code, forms, and script that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software developers or other individuals. May assist software developers by analyzing user needs and designing software solutions. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 333,620 | 1.1 % | $36.01 | $74,900 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $19.62 | $25.93 | $34.32 | $43.95 | $54.90 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $40,820 | $53,940 | $71,380 | $91,420 | $114,180 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 116,600 | 8.10 | $36.40 | $75,720 |
| Software Publishers | 16,420 | 6.47 | $39.16 | $81,440 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 16,340 | 0.86 | $35.99 | $74,850 |
| Employment Services | 13,370 | 0.50 | $34.64 | $72,060 |
| Insurance Carriers | 11,060 | 0.93 | $35.90 | $74,670 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 116,600 | 8.10 | $36.40 | $75,720 |
| Software Publishers | 16,420 | 6.47 | $39.16 | $81,440 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | 9,430 | 3.93 | $36.26 | $75,420 |
| Other Information Services | 3,350 | 2.43 | $38.04 | $79,130 |
| Other Telecommunications | 1,810 | 1.55 | $38.08 | $79,220 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 1,920 | 1.22 | $50.84 | $105,750 |
| Home Health Care Services | 130 | 0.01 | $46.03 | $95,750 |
| Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage | 2,510 | 0.55 | $45.84 | $95,340 |
| Other Financial Investment Activities | 1,370 | 0.41 | $44.73 | $93,030 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | 260 | 1.32 | $43.32 | $90,110 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 34,840 | 2.49 | 0.95 | $40.61 | $84,470 |
| New York | 31,110 | 3.73 | 1.42 | $37.83 | $78,680 |
| Texas | 27,620 | 2.74 | 1.04 | $38.46 | $79,990 |
| Illinois | 20,670 | 3.74 | 1.42 | $35.68 | $74,220 |
| Florida | 18,070 | 2.54 | 0.97 | $31.30 | $65,110 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 4,890 | 4.26 | 1.62 | $33.80 | $70,300 |
| New Jersey | 15,620 | 4.14 | 1.58 | $39.81 | $82,800 |
| Idaho | 2,410 | 4.04 | 1.54 | $25.49 | $53,020 |
| District of Columbia | 2,490 | 3.89 | 1.48 | $38.62 | $80,330 |
| Illinois | 20,670 | 3.74 | 1.42 | $35.68 | $74,220 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 8,960 | 2.87 | 1.09 | $43.57 | $90,620 |
| Washington | 8,760 | 3.25 | 1.24 | $43.31 | $90,090 |
| California | 34,840 | 2.49 | 0.95 | $40.61 | $84,470 |
| New Jersey | 15,620 | 4.14 | 1.58 | $39.81 | $82,800 |
| Vermont | 440 | 1.53 | 0.58 | $38.98 | $81,090 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 21,550 | 4.33 | 1.65 | $39.30 | $81,730 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division | 15,250 | 4.30 | 1.64 | $37.33 | $77,650 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 9,250 | 4.62 | 1.76 | $42.15 | $87,670 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 9,090 | 3.97 | 1.51 | $38.82 | $80,750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 8,170 | 2.14 | 0.82 | $39.35 | $81,850 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 7,610 | 5.65 | 2.15 | $44.63 | $92,840 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 6,930 | 4.18 | 1.59 | $44.91 | $93,410 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 6,840 | 3.11 | 1.18 | $36.70 | $76,330 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 6,300 | 2.52 | 0.96 | $35.99 | $74,860 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 5,910 | 3.28 | 1.25 | $37.72 | $78,450 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 2,330 | 12.10 | 4.61 | $29.62 | $61,610 |
| Bloomington-Normal, IL | 1,000 | 11.65 | 4.44 | $32.92 | $68,480 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 610 | 8.50 | 3.24 | $23.86 | $49,640 |
| Huntsville, AL | 1,690 | 8.34 | 3.18 | $36.45 | $75,810 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 800 | 8.11 | 3.09 | $25.57 | $53,190 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | 1,320 | 7.84 | 2.99 | $29.14 | $60,600 |
| Ithaca, NY | 370 | 7.61 | 2.90 | $33.69 | $70,070 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 3,220 | 7.59 | 2.89 | $31.99 | $66,530 |
| Durham, NC | 1,820 | 6.82 | 2.60 | $47.23 | $98,240 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 980 | 6.18 | 2.35 | $26.43 | $54,980 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | 260 | 2.60 | 0.99 | $57.14 | $118,860 |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY | 610 | 2.51 | 0.96 | $55.62 | $115,680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 4,940 | 5.77 | 2.20 | $51.22 | $106,530 |
| Durham, NC | 1,820 | 6.82 | 2.60 | $47.23 | $98,240 |
| Santa Fe, NM | (8) | (8) | (8) | $46.53 | $96,790 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 130 | 1.70 | 0.65 | $45.91 | $95,490 |
| Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division | 430 | 3.80 | 1.45 | $45.70 | $95,060 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 3,620 | 3.81 | 1.45 | $45.34 | $94,310 |
| Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division | 3,370 | 3.54 | 1.35 | $45.22 | $94,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 6,930 | 4.18 | 1.59 | $44.91 | $93,410 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 2.74 | 1.05 | $33.53 | $69,730 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 350 | 1.62 | 0.62 | $33.05 | $68,750 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 300 | 0.80 | 0.30 | $23.75 | $49,400 |
| Southwestern Montana nonmetropolitan area | 280 | 2.46 | 0.94 | $27.73 | $57,680 |
| Central New York nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 2.19 | 0.83 | $30.10 | $62,600 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 3.80 | 1.45 | $65.72 | $136,700 |
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 3.41 | 1.30 | $41.36 | $86,040 |
| West Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 2.74 | 1.05 | $33.53 | $69,730 |
| Southwestern Montana nonmetropolitan area | 280 | 2.46 | 0.94 | $27.73 | $57,680 |
| North Central Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 2.29 | 0.87 | $29.52 | $61,410 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 3.80 | 1.45 | $65.72 | $136,700 |
| Central Texas nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 1.07 | 0.41 | $47.21 | $98,190 |
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 0.63 | 0.24 | $43.55 | $90,590 |
| Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 1.02 | 0.39 | $42.71 | $88,840 |
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 3.41 | 1.30 | $41.36 | $86,040 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2010 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2010 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: May 17, 2011
