Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

15-1132 Software Developers, Applications

Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
586,340 1.2 % $44.85 $93,280 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $26.54 $34.06 $43.30 $54.46 $66.77
Annual Wage (2) $55,190 $70,850 $90,060 $113,280 $138,880

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

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 199,080 12.46 $44.87 $93,340
Software Publishers 47,500 16.72 $47.67 $99,140
Management of Companies and Enterprises 31,730 1.58 $43.56 $90,600
Insurance Carriers 22,810 1.97 $42.24 $87,850
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 21,550 1.96 $44.47 $92,490

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Software Publishers 47,500 16.72 $47.67 $99,140
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 199,080 12.46 $44.87 $93,340
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 13,140 8.38 $51.30 $106,710
Other Information Services 12,390 7.29 $49.87 $103,730
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 16,210 6.47 $43.31 $90,080

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage 8,860 1.96 $51.59 $107,300
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 7,900 1.60 $51.52 $107,150
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 13,140 8.38 $51.30 $106,710
Securities and Commodity Exchanges 50 0.68 $50.74 $105,540
Support Activities for Mining 50 0.01 $50.71 $105,480

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

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 88,260 6.17 1.37 $50.54 $105,120
Texas 41,530 3.93 0.87 $44.73 $93,030
Washington 39,650 14.34 3.19 $48.15 $100,160
New York 38,270 4.48 1.00 $47.89 $99,610
Virginia 32,610 9.07 2.01 $48.58 $101,050




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)
Washington 39,650 14.34 3.19 $48.15 $100,160
Colorado 20,580 9.25 2.05 $44.22 $91,970
Virginia 32,610 9.07 2.01 $48.58 $101,050
Massachusetts 26,720 8.34 1.85 $49.39 $102,730
New Hampshire 4,710 7.69 1.71 $43.47 $90,420




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 88,260 6.17 1.37 $50.54 $105,120
Maryland 11,650 4.64 1.03 $50.36 $104,740
Massachusetts 26,720 8.34 1.85 $49.39 $102,730
Virginia 32,610 9.07 2.01 $48.58 $101,050
Delaware 2,340 5.77 1.28 $48.18 $100,210





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)
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 35,650 25.29 5.62 $48.99 $101,910
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 33,360 6.47 1.44 $50.86 $105,780
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 28,360 12.10 2.69 $50.56 $105,160
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 24,160 26.89 5.97 $56.06 $116,610
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 19,950 11.66 2.59 $50.35 $104,720
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 18,590 5.11 1.13 $43.26 $89,990
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 15,670 4.05 0.90 $44.84 $93,270
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 14,280 6.81 1.51 $43.83 $91,160
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 14,070 14.07 3.13 $54.17 $112,670
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO 12,460 10.12 2.25 $44.39 $92,330




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)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 24,160 26.89 5.97 $56.06 $116,610
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 35,650 25.29 5.62 $48.99 $101,910
Boulder, CO 3,580 22.45 4.99 $45.56 $94,770
Nashua, NH-MA NECTA Division 1,940 14.98 3.33 $44.35 $92,250
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 14,070 14.07 3.13 $54.17 $112,670
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 3,730 13.71 3.05 $42.75 $88,920
Raleigh-Cary, NC 6,870 13.35 2.97 $43.66 $90,820
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 28,360 12.10 2.69 $50.56 $105,160
Trenton-Ewing, NJ 2,520 11.71 2.60 $43.73 $90,950
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 19,950 11.66 2.59 $50.35 $104,720