Are you looking for some interesting facts about software developers? If yes, we have compiled a list of 12 interesting facts about software engineers and programmers worldwide.
Software development is one of the most popular career choices among the youth today. Software developers work on various projects, from simple apps and applications to the operating systems that enable computer programs to run.
If you want to hire software developers, you should check out StackOverflow. It’s a worldwide community of intelligent software engineers.
Also Read: 13 Top Benefits Of Computer Programming
12 Interesting Facts About Software Developers
Software engineers are excellent problem solvers who enjoy thinking outside the box and working in a dynamic world. Sounds interesting? That is only the start because, in this article, we will explore some interesting facts about software developers.
Let’s explore these fantastic and lesser-known facts about software professionals without further ado.
1. The world’s first programmer was a woman
Ada Lovelace, born in 1815, was the world’s first programmer. She started to work on the analytical engine in the early 18th century. She developed the first computer program a century before the first computer was created.
She was an English mathematician and writer best known for working on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer.
Ada Lovelace was the first to recognize that people could use the computer for more than just calculations, and she published the first algorithm designed for such a machine. As a consequence, she is often referred to as the world’s first computer programmer.
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2. ‘Web developer’ is the most preferred job title
This may seem like a no-brainer, but any IT recruiter will tell you that there are various synonyms for the same job: full-stack developer, programmer, architect, analyst, and so on.
According to a survey, various web developers were asked what job title they preferred most. They were asked to choose among the job titles like Engineers, Developers, Programmers, Senior Developers, and Full-Stack Developers. With a 72.6 % vote, “Web Developer” was the most common choice.
3. The average age is relatively less, as compared to other professions
Next in our list of facts about software developers is their average age. In the United States, the average age of an actively licensed physician is about 52 years old. However, a developer in the United States is, on average, 32 years old.
So, we see that software development is a young person’s game. The typical developer has less than five years of experience, and three-quarters have less than ten years.
4. Developers learn in a variety of ways
Although 43% of developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar field, 69% claim to be partially self-taught.
The variety of educational pathways available to developers is genuinely fascinating. Some people learn in school, online, on the job, or by combining these methods.
5. Average experience
Most developers have two to five years of experience in this field. This is typically the level of expertise held by most mid-level developers who regularly work on heavy development projects.
Full-Stack Developers have an average experience between 6 to 10, and Engineering Managers have 11+ years of experience.
6. Men take up the bulk of developer jobs
Another fact about software developers is that men make up the bulk of developers, accounting for 88.6% of the workforce.
However, this figure is slightly lower than that of a 2016 study, in which men accounted for nearly 92 % of the developer workforce.
This gender difference is partly because computer science and development jobs are prominently marketed to male students.
This pattern is shifting at colleges, and women should expect to close the gender gap soon.
7. You Have the Choice to Live in a Variety of Cities
When you think of software development, you probably think of Silicon Valley, but the top location for software-related jobs in New York City has over 54,000 software engineers.
However, since most of the top cities employing software engineers are on the coast, a career in software engineering might not be for you if you plan to live further inland.
8. The pay is excellent
It should not be surprising that software engineers earn a lot of money. It is so because of the high demand for their services.
The average starting salary for a software engineer is $75,275. If you gain experience, your income will grow. On the other hand, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a software engineer is $100,690.
9. Developers in the gaming industry are the happiest
One of the most exciting facts about software developers is that the software developers employed in the Software Gaming industry are the sunniest.
In other words, we can say that the Gaming industry does a better job of keeping them satisfied than industries like telecommunications and government, which rank last in terms of a developer’s job satisfaction.
10. Software developers spend more time learning as compared to others
Software engineers have a higher rate of learning than other professions. This makes sense because, while change is rapid in all industries, it is swift in the ever-changing technology field.
Software developers reported learning a new skill 48 % of the time, compared to 36 % of all professionals. They often spend more time on LinkedIn, with 45 % having recently updated their profile, compared to 32 % of the general population.
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11. Software developers are paid the most in San Francisco and the least in Detroit
Continuing with our list of facts about software developers, we move on to the following facts about their employment location. Geographical location has a significant impact on software engineers’ compensation.
Software engineers earn a median wage of $142,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area and $88,0000 in Detroit. Of course, the cost of living differs significantly between these areas.
Seattle is ideal for software developers as it has a high median wage of $132,000 per year and a lower cost of living than the San Francisco area. And that is the reason it is also the country’s fastest-growing area for software engineers.
12. Most in-demand software engineers are the ones who specialize in Machine Learning and Data Science
Software developers receive three times more InMails from recruiters than the average LinkedIn professional. And specialties like machine learning and data science attract even more attention, making it easier to find work.
Parting Words
With this, we summarize our list of 12 interesting facts about software developers. This article will help you understand the latest demand for software engineering jobs and some lesser-known facts about professionals.
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