January 23, 2012 by Emsi Burning Glass
According to EMSI’s most recent covered data (i.e., workers covered by unemployment insurance), the US has an estimated 900,000 computer software engineers. And if we consider sole proprietors and 1099 workers as well, the number would be closer to 1 million software engineers — up from 930,000 in 2001. However you look at it, this is a steadily growing occupation.
This post is meant to provide a more in-depth look at the labor market for software engineers. Data and analysis comes from Analyst, EMSI’s web-based labor market analysis tool. Analyst helps regional planners quickly gain a detailed look at trends, educational attainment, training programs, and staffing patterns for any of over 800 occupations and 1,100 industries in the US.
Computer software engineers are projected to grow by 3% and add 25,000 jobs from 2010-2012. At about $44 per hour (national median), the earnings for these jobs are quite good. Two main occupations comprise this category: “system software” and “applications.” We will cover both of these below.
1. Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software
According to the BLS, systems software engineers (SOC 15-1032) do the following:
Approximately 393,000 people work as system software engineers. From 2010-2012, employment is expected to increase by 5.3%, or roughly 20,000 workers. Average earnings come in at $45 per hour (note: this will fluctuate region to region. If you would like to look at a particular region — contact us). Systems software engineers tend to be male (84%), and most (68%) are between the ages of 25 and 45.
From 2010-2012, we estimate about 13,000 annual openings for system software engineers, which is an estimate of the new positions being created and existing positions needing to be filled due to an exiting of the occupation (i.e., retirement, career change). According to IPEDS, in 2010 nearly 46,000 completed degrees and certificates related to this job. There are currently over 22,000 related job postings on Indeed.com.
Nearly 50% of the people who work as system software engineers have a bachelor’s degree and 30% have a master’s degree.
The top educational programs for systems software are computer science (15,000 completers in 2010), information technology (12,000 completers), information science (12,000 completers), and general computer engineering (6,000 completers). Informatics also popped up in this area with about 300 completers.
Staffing
The top five industries that employ these system software engineers are:
The industry that employs the highest percentage of these workers is computer storage device manufacturing. Just over 18% (4,160) of the workforce in this industry are application engineers.
Here is the more complete table:
| Inverse Staffing Pattern for Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software (15-1032) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAICS Code | Industry | Occupation Jobs in Industry (2011) | % of Occupation in Industry (2011) | % of Total Jobs in Industry (2011) |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | 59,701 | 15.2% | 8.6% |
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | 53,867 | 13.7% | 8.3% |
| 511210 | Software Publishers | 27,688 | 7.1% | 10.6% |
| 541712 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) | 16,708 | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| 334111 | Electronic Computer Manufacturing | 15,969 | 4.1% | 16.9% |
| 518210 | Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | 13,350 | 3.4% | 5.5% |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | 11,800 | 3.0% | 1.3% |
| 517110 | Wired Telecommunications Carriers | 11,049 | 2.8% | 1.9% |
| 551114 | Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices | 9,418 | 2.4% | 0.5% |
| 541519 | Other Computer Related Services | 8,969 | 2.3% | 8.1% |
| 519130 | Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals | 6,540 | 1.7% | 6.5% |
| 336411 | Aircraft Manufacturing | 6,245 | 1.6% | 2.7% |
| 334119 | Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 5,788 | 1.5% | 15.1% |
| 541711 | Research and Development in Biotechnology | 5,694 | 1.5% | 4.1% |
| 334511 | Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing | 5,482 | 1.4% | 3.8% |
| 423430 | Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers | 5,271 | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | 4,869 | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| 561320 | Temporary Help Services | 4,740 | 1.2% | 0.2% |
| 423450 | Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 4,197 | 1.1% | 2.2% |
| 334112 | Computer Storage Device Manufacturing | 4,160 | 1.1% | 18.2% |
| 334220 | Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 4,083 | 1.0% | 6.1% |
| 541513 | Computer Facilities Management Services | 3,913 | 1.0% | 7.4% |
| 920000 | State government | 3,751 | 1.0% | 0.1% |
| EMSI Covered Employment, 2011.4 | ||||
2. Computer software engineers, applications
Our second computer software engineer is responsible for creating “applications” (SOC 15-1031). According to the BLS, they do the following:
Recent data shows that there are about 507,000 computer software engineer, application workers. From 2010-2012, the occupation is projected to gain 28,000 jobs (5.8% growth). Average earnings comes in at $42 per hour. There are estimated to be 18,500 annual openings between 2010-2012, as well as 36,627 completions (i.e., those finishing programs that train for this job). Right now, there are 31,000 job postings that relate to computer software engineers of this type. Most of the workers in this area are men (84%) and 70% are between the age of 25-44.
Just under 50% of these computer software engineers have their bachelor’s degree and another 30% have a master’s.
Again, the top program for this occupation is computer science. In 2010, 15,224 people completed degrees and certificates related to applications software engineers.
Staffing
Not surprisingly, application engineers have a staffing pattern similar to systems software engineers. Here are the top five:
The industry with the highest percentage of application engineers is computer facilities management services. Over 12% (6,500) of the workforce in this industry are application engineers.
Here is the more complete table:
| Inverse Staffing Pattern for Computer Software Engineers, Applications (15-1031) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAICS Code | Industry | Occupation Jobs in Industry (2011) | % of Occupation in Industry (2011) | % of Total Jobs in Industry (2011) |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | 86,713 | 17.1% | 12.6% |
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | 82,209 | 16.2% | 12.6% |
| 511210 | Software Publishers | 43,003 | 8.5% | 16.5% |
| 551114 | Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices | 25,968 | 5.1% | 1.5% |
| 541519 | Other Computer Related Services | 14,094 | 2.8% | 12.7% |
| 920000 | State government | 13,397 | 2.6% | 0.3% |
| 518210 | Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | 11,925 | 2.4% | 5.0% |
| 541712 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) | 10,414 | 2.1% | 2.4% |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | 10,054 | 2.0% | 1.1% |
| 930000 | Local government | 9,208 | 1.8% | 0.1% |
| 524126 | Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers | 6,972 | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| 541513 | Computer Facilities Management Services | 6,483 | 1.3% | 12.3% |
| 524114 | Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | 6,078 | 1.2% | 1.8% |
| 423430 | Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers | 5,442 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| 334111 | Electronic Computer Manufacturing | 5,327 | 1.1% | 5.7% |
| 524113 | Direct Life Insurance Carriers | 5,191 | 1.0% | 1.9% |
| 523120 | Securities Brokerage | 5,039 | 1.0% | 1.8% |
| EMSI Covered Employment, 2011.4 | ||||
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