Learn how to become a software developer with this actionable guide. From coding languages to career paths, we cover it all to help you get started.
Becoming a software developer is an exciting and rewarding career path, and software development is one of the largest tech occupation categories with more than 1 in 4 (27%) of the 5.8 million tech jobs in 2023 being software developers. With more than 1.1 million job postings for software developers in the United States, it’s no surprise that software developers are in high demand, reaching nearly 2 million by 2033 – 180% above the national rate.*
And it pays to be in this lucrative tech field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for software developers as of May 2021 is $120,730 – 164% higher than the median national wage for all occupations.
Ready to get started? In this guide, we’ll outline the steps you can take to start your career as a software developer and answer some frequently asked questions.
Pursuing a career as a software developer can be challenging and time-intensive, so it’s good practice to plan out your career journey ahead of time. There’s no single path to becoming a software developer, but there are steps you can take to help you get started.
While studying and researching different job opportunities, start defining your short- and long-term career goals to help narrow down opportunities to those that best suit your desired career path. You can also take this time to determine and develop your specialization or niche, which will help give you a competitive edge.
Whichever path you decide to take—pursuing a degree or earning certifications—both require you to learn the fundamentals.
Start by developing some foundational knowledge like coding, software development methodologies and how to use the tools you will need to create programs and applications. Getting a broad overview of software development can also help you decide if this career path is right for you.
Many successful software developers don’t have a degree, but standing out from the competition in this field can be difficult. That’s why earning certifications or completing a bootcamp is a great way to boost your salary potential and capture the attention of recruiters and potential employers. Even after you get your first software developer job, it’s important to keep pursuing career development opportunities to upskill as your career progresses.
Once you’re qualified and have the basics under your belt, you can begin practicing and further developing your skills. You can gain important skills through real-world, hands-on experience like internships and apprenticeships, personal projects, workshops, hackathons and experiential learning.
When it comes to deciding what projects to work on, pick a topic that you’re interested in, figure out what common problems people are having and create something that solves that problem. As you complete coding projects—such as web applications, mobile apps or open-source contributions—be sure to add your work to your portfolio or GitHub profile to showcase your ability and creativity to hiring managers. This is especially important if you don’t have formal education or experience.
Establishing relationships with industry experts and building your network is crucial. Your network may provide inside information about what’s happening in your field of interest, provide mentorship support and help you with the job search process.
There are various ways you can start networking, such as using LinkedIn to connect with peers you make within the industry, attending events and participating in online forums communities like StackOverflow or GitHub to help you stay up-to-date with new technologies and job opportunities.
You have the fundamental knowledge and hands-on experience to start your career as a developer. Now, it’s time to build and refine your resume and start applying.
Start looking and applying for potential jobs on employment websites or job boards, like ZipRecruiter or LinkedIn. Be sure to thoroughly assess the job description to see if it matches your skills and interests and apply to positions even if you don’t feel 100% qualified for it. Your skills, portfolio and enthusiasm are often more important than meeting every requirement in the job description.
Check out the rest of our career resources series:
When it comes to hiring software developers, one thing stands out above everything else – skills. In fact, employers listed 3 million job postings in the United States seeking candidates with skills related to software development, according to Lightcast.
Many employers are looking for a mix of durable and technical skills, so it’s important to develop your professional skills just as much as your technical know-how in order to work effectively in teams, understand user requirements and deliver high-quality software.
Technical/Hard Skills
Durable/Soft Skills
Programming languages (Java, Python, C#, React, etc.)
Web development technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
Analytical and strategic thinking
Version control systems (Git)
Operating systems (Linux, macOS, Windows)
Integrated development environments (IDEs)
Software development process
Database management systems (SQL)
Data structures and algorithms
Agile software development methods
Software developers also utilize a variety of tools and technologies to streamline workflows, enhance productivity and collaborate more effectively. Below are some common tools that developers use, but you may not need or be expected to use all of these.
