U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsResearch, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, scientific, and general computing applications. Set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements. May design embedded systems software. Apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 391,700 | 1.8 % | $49.30 | $102,550 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $30.19 | $37.95 | $47.59 | $59.40 | $71.56 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $62,800 | $78,930 | $99,000 | $123,560 | $148,850 |
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 | 125,250 | 7.84 | $49.65 | $103,280 |
| Software Publishers | 26,630 | 9.38 | $50.46 | $104,960 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 22,950 | 5.67 | $51.12 | $106,330 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 20,030 | 12.77 | $51.33 | $106,760 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 17,840 | 1.37 | $50.13 | $104,270 |
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 and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 20,030 | 12.77 | $51.33 | $106,760 |
| Software Publishers | 26,630 | 9.38 | $50.46 | $104,960 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 125,250 | 7.84 | $49.65 | $103,280 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 6,670 | 5.98 | $53.84 | $111,990 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 22,950 | 5.67 | $51.12 | $106,330 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Information Services | 3,410 | 2.01 | $56.75 | $118,040 |
| Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) | 1,780 | 1.09 | $55.19 | $114,790 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 6,670 | 5.98 | $53.84 | $111,990 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 50 | 0.03 | $53.66 | $111,620 |
| Satellite Telecommunications | 140 | 1.19 | $53.34 | $110,940 |
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 | 80,130 | 5.60 | 1.86 | $55.50 | $115,440 |
| Texas | 32,660 | 3.09 | 1.03 | $47.80 | $99,420 |
| Virginia | 30,680 | 8.53 | 2.84 | $54.34 | $113,020 |
| Massachusetts | 29,220 | 9.12 | 3.03 | $53.17 | $110,600 |
| New York | 17,630 | 2.06 | 0.69 | $46.97 | $97,700 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 29,220 | 9.12 | 3.03 | $53.17 | $110,600 |
| Virginia | 30,680 | 8.53 | 2.84 | $54.34 | $113,020 |
| California | 80,130 | 5.60 | 1.86 | $55.50 | $115,440 |
| Maryland | 13,250 | 5.28 | 1.76 | $52.39 | $108,970 |
| Washington | 14,500 | 5.25 | 1.74 | $50.63 | $105,300 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 80,130 | 5.60 | 1.86 | $55.50 | $115,440 |
| Virginia | 30,680 | 8.53 | 2.84 | $54.34 | $113,020 |
| New Jersey | 9,520 | 2.51 | 0.83 | $53.30 | $110,860 |
| Massachusetts | 29,220 | 9.12 | 3.03 | $53.17 | $110,600 |
| Maryland | 13,250 | 5.28 | 1.76 | $52.39 | $108,970 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 28,600 | 12.20 | 4.06 | $54.88 | $114,150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 24,790 | 27.58 | 9.17 | $61.13 | $127,150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 19,430 | 11.35 | 3.78 | $53.93 | $112,170 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 13,670 | 9.70 | 3.22 | $51.01 | $106,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 13,280 | 3.43 | 1.14 | $54.80 | $113,980 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 12,140 | 5.79 | 1.93 | $48.01 | $99,860 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 11,760 | 3.23 | 1.07 | $44.27 | $92,090 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 11,360 | 2.20 | 0.73 | $51.66 | $107,440 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 10,970 | 10.96 | 3.65 | $53.21 | $110,670 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 9,300 | 4.11 | 1.37 | $46.63 | $96,990 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Framingham, MA NECTA Division | 4,460 | 28.36 | 9.43 | $49.35 | $102,640 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 24,790 | 27.58 | 9.17 | $61.13 | $127,150 |
| Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division | 2,720 | 23.28 | 7.74 | $53.13 | $110,520 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 28,600 | 12.20 | 4.06 | $54.88 | $114,150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 19,430 | 11.35 | 3.78 | $53.93 | $112,170 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 10,970 | 10.96 | 3.65 | $53.21 | $110,670 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,700 | 10.66 | 3.55 | $52.82 | $109,870 |
| Huntsville, AL | 2,140 | 10.50 | 3.49 | $48.79 | $101,480 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 1,370 | 10.31 | 3.43 | $49.35 | $102,650 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 13,670 | 9.70 | 3.22 | $51.01 | $106,090 |