The software engineer career path is one of the highest-paying roles in any industry. During times of uncertainty in the economy, it also provides more job security and opportunities for advancement than others. The sheer diversity of software engineer career paths, combined with the ease of learning needed to get started, make this a great career choice.

So how do you become a software engineer and what does the career path look like once you get started?

The Current Landscape of Software Engineering

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,  the job outlook for software developers is significantly higher than the average growth for other occupations. About 162,900 jobs in software engineering are expected to open up every year through 2031. That means there’s never been a better time to consider a career path in software engineering!

Consider:

• The median annual salary for software engineers in 2021 was $109,020
• Because nearly every industry needs software engineers, learning coding skills can make you recession-proof
• There are different types of software engineering jobs to choose from
• You can learn to code quickly and affordably with coding bootcamps like App Academy

Developing coding skills can open up many career opportunities for you – including some you may not have thought about before. These are just a few of the industries that require software engineers:

• Finance
• Healthcare
• Education
• Business
• Commerce/retail/e-commerce

Learn how to code, and you’ll become a more in-demand employee.

Explore:

• Why a Software Development Career is a Good Choice
• Coding in Finance: How to Learn & 5 Great Finance Coding Careers
• Becoming a Software Engineer with a Biology Degree
• The Shortage of Software Engineers in America (2023)

Education Required to Be a Software Engineer

Coding competency and programming proficiency are two of the most important skills you’ll need to apply for roles, no matter what other education you have. Whether you’re self-taught, taught by a bootcamp, or learn software skills in college, you’ll need a programming portfolio and a resume to showcase these skills to potential employers.

You’ll also need certain soft skills.” The most popular software engineering soft skills tech employers look for are:

• Communication – the ability to let your team know what needs to be done and to explain what you’re doing
• Empathy – the ability to understand what your client/employer is feeling and translate that into what you do
• Self-awareness – the ability to recognize gaps in your skillset so you can work to fill them
• Patience – the ability to stay calm in the face of complex problems and emergencies

As you learn coding languages