Since the early 20th century, job seekers have used the Strong Interest Inventory® Assessment to help find careers that will likely be an ideal fit for them based on their recorded interest patterns. After they complete the assessment, they are guided to their top Theme Code Categories, each of which contains a number of related careers that share some overlapping characteristics. For example, Investigative careers, including Software Applications Developers, involves an acute attention to detail and strong critical thinking skills. People who gravitate towards Investigative careers often enjoy solving complex problems and researching additional information. They also have strong skills in mathematics and in the natural or physical sciences.

Software Applications Developers develop, create, and modify applications and other specialized utility programs. In order to do so, they analyze user needs and consult with customers about software system design and maintenance. Once they know what the market demands are, they develop and direct programming procedures as well as system testing and validation, to make sure that applications meet market needs and function flawlessly.

Sometimes, they may need to modify existing software to adapt to new hardware or optimize performance based on new technological innovations. Developers do some work independently, but also confer with other professionals, such as systems analysts, engineer, programmers, and others, to obtain information on project limitations or capabilities, as well as performance requirements or interfaces. They may also need to supervise the work of larger teams of engineering and scientific personnel, including programmers, technologists, and technicians. Finally, Software Applications Developers need to keep records and information about additional factors that may affect their programming decisions, such as formats required, costs and security needs.

While the tools used by programmers are generally straight forward (including computer servers, as well as laptop, handheld, desktop, and mainframe computers), they use many different kinds of software. While the specific kinds of software may differ depending on the applications the programmer is developing, they may include access software (e.g., Citrix), analytical or scientific software (e.g., SAS, MATLAB, SPSS), archival software (e.g., Veritas NetBackup), business intelligence and data analysis software (e.g., IMB Cognos Impromptu, Oracle, Tableau), computer aided design software (e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD, Revit, PTC Creo Parametric), configuration management software (e.g., Patch, Puppet, Visible Razor), development environment software (e.g., adobe systems, advanced business application programming, Apache Maven, etc.), medical software (e.g., Epic Systems, MEDITECH software), project management software (e.g., Microsoft Project, Microsoft Sharepoint), transaction server software (e.g., Microsoft Internet Information Service, Object Management Group Object Request Broker, etc.) and web creation and development software (e.g., AJAX, LAMP Stack, HTML, etc.).

In addition to knowledge of this broad range of software, Software Applications Developers also need to have a strong foundation in computers, electronics, mathematics, and engineering, as well as the ability to solve complex problems by using programming languages. They also need to be able to think critically and consider and reason through multiple issues simultaneously, especially since their job often requires processing information, applying knowledge, scheduling work, and documenting progress, all at the same time. Furthermore, they need to be able to communicate complex ideas in layperson’s terms in order to help their clients understand their process when necessary. Most computer programmers and applications developers—75% of them in fact—hold a bachelor’s degree, 9% hold a master’s, and 8% hold a post-master’s certificate.

Software Applications Developers’ employment is rapidly rising across the country, with a projected growth rate of over 11%. Software Applications Developer Salary reflects this high demand for their skill sets, with an average hourly rate of nearly $50/hour, which come to an annual salary just over $100,000. Local statistics vary somewhat, with low demand states like Louisiana averaging just under $80,000 and high demand states like California averaging twice the national average at nearly $200,000. Similarly, growth rates also vary around the country, though most states are projected to grow more than 20% in the next decade. California, Washington, Texas, and New York alone are projected to add nearly 40,000 jobs in coming years.

Below are some employment trends for Software Applications Developers:

• Software Applications Developer Salary: $49.82 hourly, $103,620 annual
• Employment: 994,000 employees
• Projected growth (2018-2028): Much faster than average (11% or higher)
• Projected job openings (2018-2028): 99,200

[Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections]

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Explore our Strong Interest Inventory® Blog Pages:

• Strong Interest Inventory Realistic Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Artistic Theme Explained
• Strong Interest Inventory Investigative Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Social Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Enterprising Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Conventional Theme Explained 

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References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections Onetonline.org

References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections Onetonline.org