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Software and SaaS
Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle
Computer Programmers
Computer programmers turn software requirements into working code, then test, fix, and revise that code when it breaks or needs to change. The work is distinct because a lot of the day goes into legacy systems, careful debugging, and exact instructions rather than building brand-new products from scratch. The tradeoff is solid pay and clear technical problem-solving, but the occupation is shrinking as routine coding gets automated and absorbed into broader developer roles.
Also known as ProgrammerApplication ProgrammerSystems ProgrammerProgrammer AnalystSoftware Programmer
Median Salary
$98,670
Mean $103,640
U.S. Workforce
~110K
5.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-6%
121.2K to 113.9K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Computer Programmers sits in the Technology category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~110K workers, with a median annual pay of $98,670 and roughly 5.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 121.2 K in 2024 to 113.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Junior Programmer and can progress toward Lead Programmer. High-value skills usually include Programming in Java, C# & Python, Quality Assurance, Testing & Debugging, and Systems Analysis & Requirements Mapping, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Turn requirements and flowcharts into working code.
- Run software through tests to check that it behaves the way it should.
- Talk with managers, engineers, and other technical staff to clarify what the program needs to do and where it is going wrong.
- Find and fix bugs, then run the program again to confirm the problem is gone.
Keep exploring: more Technology careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Turn requirements and flowcharts into working code.
02 Run software through tests to check that it behaves the way it should.
03 Talk with managers, engineers, and other technical staff to clarify what the program needs to do and where it is going wrong.
04 Find and fix bugs, then run the program again to confirm the problem is gone.
05 Update older programs so they run more efficiently or handle new business needs.
06 Review other programmers' work and help keep small projects organized and on track.
Industries That Hire
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Finance and Payments
JPMorgan Chase, Visa, Fidelity
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Healthcare Technology
Epic Systems, Oracle Health, UnitedHealth Group
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Defense and Aerospace
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon
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Retail and E-commerce
Amazon, Walmart, Shopify
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a non-management role, with a median annual salary of $98,670 and a mean of $103,640.
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No work experience or on-the-job training is typically required, so a bachelor's degree can be enough to get started.
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The work is concrete: you can see a bug disappear, a program run faster, or a feature start working correctly.
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Programming skills transfer across many industries, from finance and healthcare to retail and government contractors.
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Many employers can hire programmers for remote or hybrid work because most of the job is done on a computer.
Challenges
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The outlook is weak: employment is projected to fall 6.0% from 121.2k jobs in 2024 to 113.9k by 2034.
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There are only about 5.5k annual openings, so new applicants may face tough competition for each opening.
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This is not a low-barrier job, since 88.04% of workers have a bachelor's degree and that is the typical entry requirement.
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A lot of the work is maintenance, not creativity: reading old code, tracing bugs, and patching systems built by other people.
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Routine coding is increasingly automated or folded into broader software developer roles, which can limit the long-term ceiling for pure programmers.
Career Progression
Junior Programmer
0-2 years
$58K-$78K
Learns the codebase, handles small bug fixes, and works under close review from more experienced programmers.
Computer Programmer
2-5 years
$79K-$112K
Writes and updates routine code, tests changes, and solves everyday software problems with limited supervision.
Senior Programmer THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$113K-$138K
Takes on harder debugging, performance issues, and larger program updates, often helping newer programmers troubleshoot.
Lead Programmer
9-14 years
$139K-$165K
Sets coding standards, reviews team output, and coordinates work on important systems or legacy applications.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field
The standard entry point, held by 88.04% of workers in this role.
Associate's degree in programming or computer information systems
A smaller path, used by 8.99% of workers, often for people who start in support or junior coding jobs and build experience from there.
Some college coursework plus a strong portfolio
This route appears for 2.52% of workers and usually depends on proof that you can already code well.
Coding bootcamp or certificate program
A non-degree option that can help with entry-level opportunities, especially when paired with projects and internships.
Key Skills
Technical
Programming in Java, C# & Python 95%
Quality Assurance, Testing & Debugging 70%
Systems Analysis & Requirements Mapping 68%
SQL & Database Queries 62%
Git & Version Control 60%
Visual Studio, VS Code & IDEs 58%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingAttention to DetailClear CommunicationJudgment and Decision Making Job Outlook and Trends
+-6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 121.2K to 113.9 K over the next decade, representing -6% growth. Around 5.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently High availability. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.