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-History started back in 1968 and 1969

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The term 'software engineering' was suggested at conferences organized by NATO in 1968 and 1969 to discuss the 'software crisis'. The software crisis was the name given to the difficulties encountered in developing large, complex systems in the 1960s. It was proposed that the adoption of an engineering approach to software development would reduce the costs of software development and lead to more reliable software.

The Wikipedia article on the history of SE was, at the time of writing (April 2010) quite good up until 1989. Then I think it lost its way.

Key dates in the history of software engineering are:

1968: Nato conference on software engineering. Publication of Dijkstra's note on the dangers of the goto statement in programs.
NATO conference proceedings and conference info
Early 1970s. Development of the notions of structured programming. Publication of Parnas's paper on information hiding. Development of Pascal programming language. Development of Smalltalk languages which introduced notions of object-oriented development.

Late 1970s. Early use of software design methods such as Yourdon and Constantine's structured design. Development of first programming environments.

Early 1980s. Development of the Ada programming language which included notions of structured programming and information hiding. Proposals for software engineering environments. CASE tools introduced to support design methods. Development of algorithmic approaches to software costing and estimation. Publication of the 1st edition of this book as the first student textbook on software engineering.
The history of Ada
Late 1980s. Increased use of object-oriented programming through languages such as C++ and Objective-C. Introduction of object-oriented design methods. Extensive use of CASE tools.

Early 1990s. Object-oriented development becomes a mainstream development technique. Commercial tools to support requirements engineering become available.

Late 1990s. Java is developed and released in the mid-1990s. Increasing attention paid to notions of software architecture. Client-server distributed architectures are increasingly used. Notion of component-based software engineering is proposed. The UML is proposed, integrating several separately developed notations for representing object-oriented systems.
The history of Java
Early 2000s. Use of integrated development environments becomes more common. Use of stand-alone CASE tools declines. Use of the UML becomes widespread. Increasing use of scripting languages such as Python and PERL for software development. C# developed as a competitor to Java.

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The term 'software engineering' was suggested at conferences organized by NATO in 1968 and 1969 to discuss the 'software crisis'. The software crisis was the name given to the difficulties encountered in developing large, complex systems in the 1960s.

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What is a Software Engineer?

Software engineering is a branch of computer science which includes the development and building of computer systems software and applications software. Computer systems software is composed of programs that include computing utilities and operations systems. Applications software consists of user-focused programs that include web browsers, database programs, etc.

There is a lot of investment going into software engineering at the moment due to the increasing reliance on mobile technology, venture capital-backed start-ups, the growing complexity of technology, and emerging industries. The demand for skilled and qualified software engineers seems to have no end. This demand is strengthened by a changing economic landscape and fueled by the need for technology solutions. With billions of physical devices around the world that are now connected to the internet and that are collecting and sharing data, all industries are quickly becoming technology driven industries.

Software engineers have extensive knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and they apply engineering principles to software creation. By applying these engineering principles to every stage of the development process, from requirements analysis to the software process, they can create customized systems for individual clients. Just as a civil engineer will make sure that a bridge has a solid foundation, a software engineer will also begin with a thorough study of requirements and work through the development process in a systematic way.

What does a Software Engineer do?

Software engineers are highly sought after. Developers that live in high demand areas often receive many inquiries a month from recruiters and head hunters. A software engineer applies mathematical analysis and the principles of computer science in order to design and develop computer software.

There are many types of software that a software engineer can develop, such as operating systems, computer games, middleware, business applications and network control systems. Changes in technology and new areas of specialization keeps this profession evolving at a rapid pace.

When working with a client, a software engineer will typically analyze the client's needs, then design, test, and develop the computer software in order to meet those needs. They are experts in computing systems, software structure, and recognizing the limitations of the existing hardware. The process is complicated and intricate, therefore the use of diagrams, flowcharts, and the creation of algorithms to tell the computer what to do are created. Converting these instructions into a computer language (coding/programming) is usually the responsibility of a computer programmer.

Software engineers must also possess interpersonal skills, and be able to effectively communicate with users in order to train, test, and debug software all the way to the end product. They are often involved from the early stages of software planning right through to the testing, development, training, and support stages.

Software engineers can be divided into two categories:

Applications Engineers
Applications engineers create or adapt applications for businesses and organizations by analyzing the end user's needs. They will design, build, install, and maintain these applications or programs.

Systems Engineers
Systems engineers coordinate the creation, maintenance and growth of a business or organization's computer systems. They coordinate each department's needs, suggest technical direction, and set up any networks that link up computers with the company.

Being a software engineer is a great career choice for someone who is exceptionally good at both left and right-brained thinking (analytical skills as well as problem-solving skills). Software engineers are instinctive problem-solvers, good at working with others and focused on seeing issues through to their successful completion.

A software engineer should be well-versed in:
- Programming and coding
- Fundamentals of computer science
- Design and architecture
- Algorithms and data structures
- Information analysis
- Debugging software
- Testing software

Are you suited to be a software engineer?

Software engineers have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means they're intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also conventional, meaning they're conscientious and conservative.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if software engineer is one of your top career matches.

Take the free test now Learn more

What is the workplace of a Software Engineer like?

With such unprecedented growth in a multitude of industries, software engineers can pursue careers in any number of areas, including technology, healthcare, automotive manufacturing, green energy, remote sensing, aeronautics, government, non-profit, and finance.

Software engineers can work as either employees or as contractors. They typically work in comfortable settings, but it is sometimes a stressful job that involves long hours and tight deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Technology is growing at a rapid pace, and opportunities in software development are growing right along with it. For software engineers with an appetite to develop valuable interpersonal skills, management roles are widely available. Interpersonal skills (or soft skills) include communication, conflict management, empathy, leadership, listening, negotiation, a positive attitude, and being able to work as part of a team.

Individuals who are technically skilled communicators have many options available to them. They can, in time, qualify for a variety of roles, including Senior Engineer, Team Lead, Architect, Manager and can eventually make their way to senior management. The pace of a career path progression depends on someone demonstrating technical ability, inner drive, analytical thinking and excellent communication skills.

A software engineer's career path could look something like this:

Junior Web Developer
This is a starting or ground-floor position that an individual right out of college or an accelerated course could get with little to no computer programming experience. One can start applying for job postings as a junior web developer with a working knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery. Any number of online coding schools or in-person programs and dev bootcamps offer classes in these programming languages.

Requirements for a junior web developer include: being able to write simple scripts; having an understanding of the expected application lifecycle; and possessing a basic understanding of database and application services, such as caching and queues.

There may be occasions when junior web developers feel overwhelmed when they are asked to write complicated applications. Other days they may wonder why they are doing similar work to a senior web developer and not getting promoted. Both scenarios are completely normal. However, the biggest difference between a junior and senior developer is their level of experience.

Software Web Developer, Sr. Software Web Developer
A software web developer, or senior software web developer is someone who has: several years of professional programming experience; can write complex code; possesses a thorough understanding of databases, application services and application lifecycle development; and has become proficient at creating entire applications. Much of a software engineer's career path will involve spending several years as a senior web developer.

People who don't like the idea of management and prefer to stick with writing code can spend many years or even their entire career as a senior web developer. However, this position can also be a great jumping off point to a position as a software engineer or a manager, such as lead software engineer or CTO (chief technical officer) of a startup.

Lead Software Engineer, Technical Architect
For someone who wants to take on additional responsibility and more of a challenge, but is not interested in team management, a lead software engineer or architect role may be a great fit.

Lead engineers are looked to for guidance and direction by other engineers and programmers, and the role is seen as a mid-level management position. Lead engineers still write code, but also collaborate with others regarding work flow priorities and implement final decisions. They have years of programming experience, expertise in a specific subject matter, and can think of, plan, and build appropriate software to solve complicated problems.

Architects still write code occasionally as well, however they are mainly responsible for designing complex systems that other web developers will implement. The role of architect is a technical one and not usually a stepping stone to something more - often thought of as the highest position on the technical side of things.

Development Team Lead, Software Development Manager
Management is the next step along the software engineer's career path that can involve different focuses and responsibilities. These can include managing teams of developers, managing large-scale projects, and hiring and firing developers.

Mid-level managers (like lead software engineers) keep track of productivity and workflow in the department and report to a senior manager. A senior manager coordinates the needs of the project leader with the development team, which requires excellent people skills and the ability to resolve conflict effectively. The senior manager's job is also to add or terminate employees to the team whenever necessary which can be a challenge at first, but a powerful leadership skill when mastered.

Director, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer
Senior management (which can include titles such as director, vice president, or chief technology officer) report to the CEO or to the company's board of directors. They oversee the work of other managers and often have some responsibility towards setting strategic and corporate direction. Some executive type responsibilities may include setting goals and initiatives, developing long-term strategies, and holding various departments accountable for specific measurable objectives. Senior managers are also responsible for supervising, hiring, and firing mid-level managers.

If managing people is just not something you are interested in, a career as a software engineer still provides such a decent level of income that you can still be a team contributor and have a rewarding career.
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One of the main differences between software engineering and software development is job function. Software engineering applies engineering principles to create software, therefore software engineers take part in software development by connecting the client's needs with technological solutions. They systematically develop processes to provide specific functions by using engineering concepts to develop software.

On the other hand, software developers are responsible for the entire development process and are the driving creative force behind programs. They typically work together with the client to create a conceptual design and then have computer programmers create the programming code needed to run the software. The computer programmers along with the software developers will test and fix problems together and the developers will provide project leadership and technical guidance through each stage of the software development life cycle.

To sum things up, a software engineer is often involved with software development, but very few software developers are engineers. The main difference between software engineering and software development is that one oversees the engineering while the other focuses on creating functional programs.
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Attracted by high salaries, strong employment opportunities, and a chance to build things that can change the world, more people than ever are choosing software engineering as a career choice. However, succeeding in this career requires more than just great coding ability. The best software engineers bring specific qualities and attributes to the job that make them stand out from everyone else.

Working well with others
There are many media portrayals of a lone-wolf that stays up all night coding furiously in isolation. This stereotype represents coders as exceptionally smart but emotionally stunted. Unfortunately this type of temperament doesn't work well in real life. Software engineers who know how to work well with others are much more likely to be successful in their careers than lone wolves are.

A software engineer's job is to figure problems out and to produce a great product, not just to write as many amazing lines of code as possible. That means communicating with other engineers, developers, managers, quality control people, customers, etc. and treating them with respect and understanding. The better your relationships are with your team, the better your own work will be.

Letting go of the ego
Not bringing your ego to work with you and staying humble can be difficult at times. No matter how good you think you are at what you do, it's inevitable that you will make mistakes along with some bad decisions. Accepting constructive criticism from your peers when errors are pointed out and accepting responsibility for your mistakes will make you a much better engineer in the long run. Possessing a humble attitude is the only way you'll be able to channel other people's feedback into improving, learning, and making yourself a better software engineer and person.

Not putting out mediocre work
Software engineers who pay attention to details tend to write higher-quality code. They tend to step back and catch mistakes, instead of rushing and cutting corners. Those that feel a personal sense of ownership and pride when it comes to their work tend to be more successful in this career. Putting effort into what you're doing wards off mediocrity and gives you that push to produce high-quality work and not get too complacent. Also, sharpening your skills by learning new languages or keeping abreast of any new data structures or algorithms can keep things interesting and fresh.

Being naturally curious and interested
People who love to learn are constantly improving and exploring new and better ways to do things. By listening to podcasts, reading blogs, or going to conferences, you can stay on top of the latest trends in software engineering and be looped into topics that will make you a stronger and more well-rounded engineer. By being open to new things, new ideas and approaches to solving problems may come to you that wouldn't have occurred to you otherwise.

Developing soft skills
Soft skills are fast becoming hard skills in this ever-changing world. It's simply not enough to be highly skilled as a software engineer without developing skills that help you get along with your team effectively. These skills have a significant impact on a your attitude which ultimately ties back to your success. The skills for success tend to be fairly consistent - adaptability, problem-solving, self-management, attention to detail, creativity, communication, collaboration, work ethic, empathy, and organization are just a few. Keeping these qualities in mind can help any engineer improve, no matter how experienced.

Seeing the big picture
Understanding and balancing the day-to-day steps that are required to get to a goal yet not losing sight of the long-term vision is key to being a successful software engineer. By practicing this skill and thinking ahead, you will be able to see how each individual component will eventually contribute to the product as a whole and how each element will interact with each other. The ability to weigh out the long- and short-term outlook and see how certain decisions can influence the scope and direction of a project is a key attribute. Being able to adapt and prevent a project from derailing is what separates really good engineers from mediocre ones.
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Based on our pool of users, software engineers tend to be predominately investigative people. This finding is reflective of all of the work that these engineers do. Whether they are learning technologies, writing software, or debugging issues, the capacity to investigate - to carry out a systematic inquiry to discover the facts - is fundamental.

'Building software solutions that power virtually every organization, it's a cool job.' That is often the comment heard about working as a software engineer. And while it is true, it is also a demanding job, one that typically requires employees to work long hours to often short deadlines in an environment where a single mistake can result in a massive bug.

So, what type of a person does it take to be an effective software engineer? Here are some qualities that are essential in the role:

A dedication to learning There are some jobs that you have to learn once and never again. Software engineering is the exact opposite to this. More than in almost any other function, software engineers need to continually be learning. There are always new software languages to master and new technologies and techniques to learn. If you are not committed to learning, your skills will quickly become antiquated.

A passion for improving what's around you The best software engineers are constantly thinking about how to improve the world around them. They are always tinkering, listening to user feedback, and following their intuition to produce and continually improve software solutions.

A logical, analytical mindset Writing code is much like writing in general. It's about using the fewest number of characters possible to make your point. It's about taking a complex set of instructions and boiling it down to its most integral parts. It's about making decisions based on data and research. If you have a penchant for logic games and puzzles, software engineering may be a career fit for you.

A sharp attention to detail Mistakes while coding lead to bugs, which lead to customer frustration and complaints and lost revenues. An eye for detail and a willingness to thoroughly - almost feverishly - test and revise your work are key qualities of successful software engineers.

Perseverance When developing a piece of software, there is no magic formula that dictates how the solution will be achieved. Software engineers need a certain doggedness to find the right path to building a specific application or system.

The ability to work with others In field of software engineering, this is an underrated but critically important skill. Yes, coding itself is often solitary work. But it is almost always done in the framework of a larger team. Collaboration, therefore, is indispensable, to leverage and maximize the abilities, talents, and input of everyone to devise solutions.

The software industry is always changing. This means that a career in the field demands a commitment to learning that starts in high school, is solidified in university, and continues with career-long professional certifications and training.

Becoming a professional engineer takes a minimum of eight years.

A four- or five- year Bachelor's Degree program is the typical education track required for entry into the engineering profession. After earning their Bachelor's, graduates may sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. With four years of industry experience after that, they may sit for the second part of the exam to become a Professional Engineer.

Many in the field go on to pursue a Master's Degree, which typically takes another two years to complete.

Software Engineers are also known as:
Software Developer Software Architect Software Development Engineer Computer Software Engineer

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Software engineering is a branch of computer science which includes the development and building of computer systems software and applications software. Computer systems software is composed of programs that include computing utilities and operations systems. Applications software consists of user-focused programs that include web browsers, database programs, etc.

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-Proofhub
-Github
-Adobe Dreamweaver

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Best Software Development Tools and Platforms a Developer Should Know:
Know which Software Tools developers use for developing the latest and modern feature-rich projects.

A computer program that is used by the software developers for creating, editing, maintaining, supporting and debugging other applications, frameworks and programs - is termed as a Software Development Tool or a Software Programming Tool.

Development tools can be of many forms like linkers, compilers, code editors, GUI designer, assemblers, debugger, performance analysis tools etc. There are certain factors to be considered while selecting the corresponding development tool, based on the type of the project.

Few of such factors include:

Selecting the right development tool has its own effect on the project's success and efficiency.

Use of Software Programming Tools:

Given below are few uses of the Software Dev Tools:

Software tools are used to accomplish and investigate the business processes, document the development process of the software and optimize all the processes.

By using these tools in the software development process, the outcome of the projects will be more productive.

Using the development tools, a developer can easily maintain the workflow of the project.

Best Software Development Tools You Should Know
We have researched and ranked the best software programming and development tools. Here is a review and comparison of each tool.
Fixing bugs before deployment saves a lot of time and energy in the long run. Embold is a software analytics platform that analyses source code and uncovers issues that impact stability, robustness, security, and maintainability.
Advantages:

With the Embold plugins, you can pick up code smells and vulnerabilities as you code, before making commits.

Unique anti-pattern detection prevents the compounding of unmaintainable code.

Integrate seamlessly with Github, Bitbucket, Azure, and Git and plugins available for Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA.

Get deeper and faster checks than standard code editors, for over 10 languages.

Linx is low code tool to build and automate backend applications and web services. The tool accelerates the design, development and automation of custom business processes, including easy integration of applications, systems and databases.

Atom is an open source and free desktop editor cum source code editor that is up-to-date, friendly and hackable to the core.
Key Features:

Atom supports cross-platform editing and works for various operating systems like Windows, Linux and OS X.

Atom is a customizable tool with which one can effectively edit the look & feel of the User Interface, add few important features etc., without editing the configuration file.

Important features of Atom which made it a remarkable tool are its built-in package manager, smart autocomplete, multiple panes, file system browser, find & replace feature etc.

Atom is used to build cross-platform applications with web technologies using a framework called 'Electron'.

Initially in 2010 Cloud 9 was an open source, cloud-based IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that supports various programming languages like C, Perl, Python, JavaScript, PHP etc. Later in 2016, AWS (Amazon Web Service) acquired it for further improvement and made it chargeable as per the usage.
Key Features:
GitHub is a powerful collaboration tool and development platform for code review and code management. With this GitHub, the users can build applications and software, manage the projects, host the code, review the code etc.
Key Features: For further information on GitHub tool, visit here.
NetBeans is an open source and a free software development tool written in Java that develops world-class web, mobile, and desktop applications easily and quickly. It uses C / C++, PHP, JavaScript, Java etc.
Key Features:
Bootstrap is an open source and free framework for developing responsive websites and mobile-first projects using CSS, HTML, and JS. Bootstrap is widely used to design faster and simpler websites.
Key Features: More information on this framework is available here.
Node.js is an open source, cross-platform and JavaScript run-time environment that is built to design a variety of web applications and to create web servers and networking tools.
Key Features:
Bitbucket is a distributed, web-based version control system that is used for collaboration between software development teams (code and code review). It is used as a repository for source code and development projects.
Key Features:
CodeCharge Studio is the most creative and leading IDE and RAD (Rapid Application Development) that is used to create data-driven web applications or enterprise internet and intranet systems with minimal coding.
Key Features: Documentation and sign up information about CodeCharge Studio can be accessed from here.
CodeLobster is a free as well as a convenient PHP IDE that is used to develop fully-featured web applications. It supports HTML, JavaScript, Smarty, Twig, and CSS.
Key Features: CodeLobster can be downloaded from here.
Codenvy is a cloud development environment used for coding and debugging the applications. It can support sharing projects in real-time and can collaborate with others.
Key Features:
More information on this tool is available here.

AngularJS is an open source, structural and JavScript based framework used by web developers to design web applications in a dynamic manner.
Key Features: Download AngularJS from here.
Eclipse is the most popular IDE that is used by Java developers in computer programming. It is used to develop applications not only in Java but also in other programming languages like C, C++, C#, PHP, ABAP etc.
Key Features: Eclipse can be downloaded from here.
Adobe Dreamweaver is an exclusive software program and programming editor that is used for creating simple or complex websites. It supports many markup languages like CSS, XML, HTML, and JavaScript.
Key Features:
Click here for further details on Dreamweaver.

Crimson Editor is a freeware, lightweight text editing tool and an epic of software development tools only for Microsoft Windows which are used as HTML editor and source code editor.
Key Features:

Crimson Editor is the specialized source code editor that offers an amazing feature of editing the score of programming languages like HTML, Perl, C / C++ and Java.

Features of Crimson Editor include print & print preview, syntax highlighting, multi-level undo/redo, editing multiple documents, user tools & macros, editing remote files directly using built-in FTP client etc.

Size of Crimson Editor software is also small but the loading time is fast.

The learning curve of this software is so fast. It comes with a complete help manual which makes the navigation part easy.

Crimson Editor can be accessed from here.
Zend Studio is a next-generation PHP IDE that is used for coding, debugging, prototyping and testing of mobile & web applications.
Key Features: Zend Studio can be downloaded from here.
Jira is the most popular software development tool that is used by agile teams for planning, tracking and releasing the software.
Key Features: For more details about the free trial and other tool related information, visit here.
CloudForge is a Saas (Software as a service) product that is used for application development. It is used for collaborative application development in the cloud.
Key Features:
Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service that is used for designing, deploying, testing and managing web applications or hybrid cloud applications through Microsoft's global network of data centers.
Key Features:

Microsoft Azure offers various services like mobile services, data management, storage services, messaging, media services, CDN, caching, virtual network, business analytics, migrate apps & infrastructure etc.

It supports various programming languages (.NET, Python, PHP, JavaScript etc), widest range of operating systems (Linux, Windows etc), devices and frameworks.

Detailed pricing information is available on their website. Sample example pricing for "App Service" is Rs 0.86/hour and that too its free for the first 12 months.

Using Azure, we can easily spot the threats and lessen them, deliver the mobile apps flawlessly, manage the apps proactively etc.

Documentation and sign up information about Microsoft Azure can be accessed from here.
#21) Spiralogics Application Architecture (SAA)

SAA is a cloud-based development tool that is used to define, design, customize, and publish their software applications online without any coding.
Key Features:
Embarcadero Delphi is a powerful object Pascal IDE that is used to develop cross-platform Native Applications with adjustable cloud services and comprehensive IoT connectivity.
Key Features: Free trial of Delphi is available here. #23) Zoho Creator
Zoho Creator is a low-code platform that enables rapid development and delivery of web and mobile applications and assists to Build powerful enterprise software applications 10x faster. You no longer have to write endless lines of code to build an application.

It also provides key features like Artificial Intelligence, JavaScript, Cloud functions, third-party integrations, multi-language support, offline mobile access, integration with a payment gateway and more.

With over 4 million users worldwide and 60+ apps, our platform enhances business productivity. Zoho Creator is featured in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms (LCAP), 2019.
Features:
Verdict: Zoho Creator provides the low-code application development platform to build enterprise applications. It involves building applications with minimal coding which drastically reduces app-development time and effort.

Conclusion

In this article, we have researched and listed popular, modern and latest Software Development Tools along with their features, supported platforms and pricing details.

This is a comprehensive list of programming tools used for development on any modern project. You can boost your productivity by using these latest easy to use and learn dev tools.

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20 BEST Software Development Tools (2020 Rankings)

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Best Software Development Tools and Platforms a Developer Should Know. Know which Software Tools developers use for developing the latest and moden feature-rich projects.

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They can be grouped into specialties

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Software engineering is a smart career choice - it's one of the most in-demand skills in the world and American software engineers earn a median salary of $112,000.

But all software engineers aren't created equal and there are cities in America that pay software engineers significantly more than others. Using data from our friends at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, we identified the the highest-paying types of software engineers and the American cities that pay them the most; along with what activities software engineers tend to do more of than other professionals.

1. Software engineers can be roughly grouped into six specialties.

After examining millions of LinkedIn profiles of software engineers, we found that most engineers fit into six areas, such as front-end and mobile.

Front-End Engineers: By far the biggest talent pool, their population is more than double that of the second-biggest specialty.

Embedded and Application Engineers: These engineers focus primarily on the IoT and are one of the smallest talent pools, but also the most experienced. It's also the least gender-diverse.

Infrastructure and Cloud Computing Engineers: They tend to be more experienced. Like embedded and application engineers, 77 percent of infrastructure and cloud professionals have more than 10 years of experience.

Machine Learning and Data Science Engineers: The smallest specialty - and the most in-demand (more on that in the next section). This is a good place to be.

Mobile Engineers: The second-biggest specialty, and they're also the youngest cohort - 37 percent of these engineers have less than 10 years of experience, more than any other specialty.

Test and Quality Assurance Engineers: The most gender-diverse group - and yet even there, women represent only around 30 percent of its talent pool. It's worth noting that, based on this demographic data, all specialties have a long way to go until they reach gender parity.

2. Software engineers who specialize in machine learning and data science are the most sought-after.

Software engineers get three-times as many InMails from recruiters on LinkedIn as the average professional. But certain specialties tend to draw even more interest, meaning it's even easier to get a job.

Here is how the supply of software engineering talent stacks up relative to demand from organizations, by the six specialities:

A few takeaways:

There's the most demand for software engineers who specialize in machine learning and data science, and yet there is also the least supply. That means software engineers with that speciality are often swimming in opportunity.

Test and quality assurance specialists are the only engineers where the supply outstrips the demand, albeit barely. Relax - it's still a good career choice; it's just not as in-demand as other specialities.

Engineers who specialize in infrastructure and cloud are low in relative supply and demand. But all signs suggest demand is about to vastly increase - tech experts agree that cloud engineering is a must-have skill for technologists moving forward.

3. They are also the highest paid.

Unsurprisingly, thanks to large demand and short supply, software engineers who specialize in machine learning and data science are the highest paid.

The good news? The lowest specialty on the list - test and quality assurance - still has a median salary of $103,000 a year. Not bad.

4. San Francisco pays software engineers the most; Detroit, the least.

For software engineers, geography has a tremendous effect on their paychecks. In the San Francisco Bay Area, software engineers make a median salary of $142,000 - in Detroit, they make $88,0000.

Of course, the cost-of-living varies greatly across these regions as well. Consider Seattle - not only is the median salary high at $132,000 annually and the cost-of-living less than the San Francisco area, it's also the fastest growing area in the country for software engineers.

5. Software engineers spend more time learning than other professionals.

Software engineers learn more than the rest of the population. This makes sense - while the rate of change is fast across all industries, it's particularly rapid in the ever-changing field of tech.

As you can see, 48 percent of software engineers said they recently learned a new skill, compared to 36 percent among all professionals. Software engineers also spend more time on LinkedIn, with 45 percent of them updating their LinkedIn profile recently, compared to 32 percent of the rest of the population.
Are you looking to become a software engineer? Here are LinkedIn Learning courses for each one of the six main areas:

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5 Facts About Software Engineers, Like Which Ones Get Paid the Most

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Software engineering is a smart career choice - it's one of the most in-demand skills in the world and American software engineers earn a median salary of $112,000. But all software engineers aren't created equal and there are cities in America that pay software engineers significantly more than others.

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What is the salary range for this career?

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What is the salary range for this career?

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$65k-$120k per year

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Are you paid fairly?

Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's market

Recent Salary Reports

Below are the most recent computer engineer salary reports. Employer name has been removed to protect anonymity.

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Salary: Computer Engineer in San Diego, CA | Glassdoor

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Are you paid fairly? Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's market Below are the most recent computer engineer salary reports. Employer name has been removed to protect anonymity.

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-build software product
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-run control systems

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What Do Computer Engineers Do? Would you be thrilled to be at the forefront of creating the next generation of microprocessors and hardware that will drive new types of artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and "thinking" machines that have the capacity to self-evolve?

Do you want to be knowledgeable about complex topics such as logic design, microprocessor system design, computer architecture, and computer interfacing?

Are you interested in an exciting job that allows you to develop and implement new software applications, as well as enhance the capabilities of already existing networks?

The rapidly-evolving field of computer engineering offers unique opportunities to make a real difference by designing computer hardware and software found in everything from cars to video games to life-saving medical equipment!

Computer engineers

Research, design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacture and installation of computer hardware, including

computer chips

circuit boards

computer systems

related equipment such as keyboards, routers, and printers

Design and test circuits and other electronic components.

Focus on computer networks for the transmission of data and multimedia.

Work on the interface between different pieces of hardware and strive to provide new capabilities to existing and new systems or products.

Specializations

Artificial intelligence: help create computer systems that simulate human thinking, learning, and reasoning abilities.

Operating systems and networks: design, develop, and operate software and network systems.

Computer design: research and test electronic computer components including microchips, microprocessors, and circuit boards.

Computer software: work to develop computer software to research and solve problems.

Robotics: plan and produce robotic systems to be used in a variety of industries.

Famous Computer Engineers

Radia Perlman (commonly referred to as the "Mother of the Internet" and most famous for her invention of the spanning-tree protocol, which is fundamental to the operation of network bridges)

Ellen Ochoa (designed optical systems for Sandia National Laboratory and developed computer systems designed for aeronautical expeditions at NASA's Ames Research Center)

Sundar Pichai (computer engineer and current CEO of Google Inc., dubbed as the "man behind Google's most important products)

Markus Persson (developer of Minecraft, one of the most popularly played video games across the globe)

Jeff Bezos (American technology entrepreneur and founder of e-commerce giant Amazon.com)

Jack Dorsey (American businessman who co-founded Twitter, one of the top 10 most-visited websites in the world)

Garrett Camp (Canadian entrepreneur who co-founded StumbleUpon and Uber)

Jan Koum (Ukrainian-born American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded the mobile messaging application WhatsApp)

Areas of Employment

Computer manufacturers

Financial services

Chemical companies

Defense contractors

Consulting firms

Transportation

Telecommunications

Product development

Nanotechnology

Healthcare

Green energy

Aeronautics

Consumer goods

Web development

Information technology

Database administration

Career Guidance Suggestions for Pre-University Students

Pre-algebra

Geometry

Advanced algebra

Engineering fundamentals

Chemistry

Calculus

Trigonometry

Statistics

Computer applications

Differential equations

Physics

Economics

Robotics

Programming

Electronic systems

Networking and security

Signal processing

Circuit analysis

Logic design

Microprocessors

Digital communications

Suggested extracurricular activities:

Competitions

Summer programs

Afterschool programs

Clubs

Internships

Online puzzles and games

Online courses

Maker Faires

Design projects

Local programs offered by

Science centers and museums

Professional societies like IEEE

Universities

Technical skills: be able to demonstrate technical expertise in their field of study, whether in software or hardware computer design, systems integration, or networking and security.

Communication skills: communicate information effectively, both to scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Research skills: conduct independent research, as well as identify, review, evaluate, and apply information from other sources.

Problem-solving skills: be able to integrate their advanced expertise with new knowledge in order to solve complex engineering problems.

Math skills: apply various mathematical concepts (geometry, statistics, algebra, etc.) to real-world situations.

Design skills: use the fundamentals of design techniques to develop new computer systems and products.

Management skills: understand basic concepts related to project planning, organization, and risk and cost assessment.

Links and Resources

Association for Computing Machinery: the world's largest educational and scientific computing society focused on advancing computing as a science and a profession.

Association for Women in Computing: one of the first professional organizations for women in computing focused on promoting the advancement of women in the computing professions.

Computing Research Association: focus is to enhance innovation by joining with industry, government, and academia to strengthen research and advanced education in the computing fields.

American Society for Information Science and Technology: committed to finding new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information.

Association of Information Technology Professionals: the leading, worldwide society of professionals in information technology.

USENIX, the Advanced Computing Systems Association: brings together engineers, system administrators, scientists, and technicians in computing-related professions.

IEEE Computer Society: the world's leading membership organization dedicated to computer science and technology; the trusted information, networking, and career-development source for a global community of technology leaders.

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Computer Engineering - TryEngineering.org Powered by IEEE

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What Do Computer Engineers Do? Would you be thrilled to be at the forefront of creating the next generation of microprocessors and hardware that will drive new types of artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and "thinking" machines that have the capacity to self-evolve?

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-Bachelor of science in computer software engineering

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Who are some famous people with this career?

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Who are some famous people with this career?

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-Tim Bray
-Paul Buchheit
-John Carmack
-Dave Cutler
-Max Levchin
-Pierre Omidyar
-Jimmy Wales
-Micheal Widenius
-Jamie Zawinski

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Computer engineers are responsible for designing, developing, implementing and testing computer-based hardware and software. Computer engineering refers to the study that integrates electronic engineering with computer sciences to design and develop computer systems and other technological devices. Computer engineers specializing in software need to be fluent in a variety of programming languages, like Java and C++. Computer engineers are also suited for robotics research, which relies heavily on using digital systems to control and monitor electrical systems like motors, communications, and sensors. A computer engineer may also be responsible for constructing and managing an organization's computer system and supplying technical support. A computer engineer typically works in an office or laboratory environment as part of a team and enjoys a traditional work schedule. Since even the smallest businesses rely on some type of computer system for their daily tasks, computer engineers are known to work all over the map in both the private and public sectors. This section provides you information about the life and works of various famous computer engineers from all over the world.

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List of Famous Computer Engineers - Biographies, Timelines, Trivia & Life History

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Computer engineers are responsible for designing, developing, implementing and testing computer-based hardware and software. Computer engineering refers to the study that integrates electronic engineering with computer sciences to design and develop computer systems and other technological devices. Computer engineers specializing in software need to be fluent in a variety of programming languages, like Java and C++.