Software Development Career Guide

Software development is a multi-billion dollar industry. Professionals in this field are in demand and can command lucrative salaries and favourable job conditions if they have the right skills.

In this Career Guide, we’ll take a closer look at three job roles in the software development industry: software developer or engineer, game developer and app developer.

Potential Roles in Software Development

The software development field offers a range of job types and specialities, with companies and organisations across industries hiring software developers to create bespoke programmes, packages and tools tailored to their business. Software developers can also specialise in specific technologies, like gaming and app development.

Software developers are skilled professionals who solve technical software problems for clients. A job in software development involves designing, testing and implementing new software to meet the client or employer’s objectives. Software developers and software engineers do similar work, although a developer tends to work on specific software solutions, whereas an engineer works on generic tech solutions used on a larger scale.

Game developers use their ideas and technical expertise to code and build computer games. For many people, this is up there on the dream jobs list! A game developer job may be fun, but it’s also technically demanding and requires training and honing your expertise to stand out in a competitive job market.

App developers are in high demand, as many growing companies are investing in creating their own apps. An app developer can work on a project from start to finish: determining the client’s goals, designing, building and testing the app before rolling it out to customers and providing ongoing management and optimisation. App developer jobs are highly technical but can also be creative and fun, particularly when working in an industry that interests you.

Salary and Career Progression

Software development can be a very lucrative career choice, particularly for the most technically skilled candidates. Many companies rely heavily on tech and simply cannot afford to have suboptimal digital platforms, and therefore, see the value in hiring skilled developers.

Software developers start at around £27,000 per year and can earn upwards of £70,000 for senior roles. Specialists can earn significantly more if working with large organisations. Career progression is often achieved by niching into a specific area, like game or app development, or working in a high-income industry, like finance or architecture.

In the US, software developers have an average salary of around $150,000, with top salaries reaching $270,000 or more.

Game developers in the UK can earn a salary from £25,000 up to £75,000 for senior roles. In the US, average earnings are around $115,000. There is scope for career progression in game development, and you can move into senior developer or technical director positions. You might decide to branch out on your own, which can be very lucrative if you build a game yourself that becomes successful.

App developers have similar earning potential to game developers, with salaries starting at around £25,000 in the UK, rising to £70,000 and more for senior roles, and an average salary of $105,000 to $120,000 in the US. There is more chance of progression into senior developer roles in larger companies, and you may be able to earn more by specialising in a specific niche (for example, becoming an expert in building apps using one particular coding language).

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Software developers typically need a university education in a technical subject. The following education, qualifications and experience can be beneficial for success:

• 4-5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (UK)
• 3-4 A Levels (UK)
• High School Diploma (US)
• A Bachelor’s degree in a technical subject, such as computer systems engineering, computer software, mathematics or electronics
• Larger and more prestigious employers typically ask for a 2:1 degree or higher
• For candidates with non-technical degrees, postgraduate study in a relevant subject is necessary
• Employers expect ongoing learning and an interest in the latest developments in the tech space
• In the US, a Coding Camp, which is a short, intense course, may be accepted as an alternative to a formal degree

Game developers typically need the same foundational qualifications as general software developers but also benefit from additional training and expertise, as follows:

• 4-5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (UK)
• 3-4 A Levels (UK)
• High School Diploma (US)
• A Bachelor’s degree in a technical subject, such as computer systems engineering, computer software or electronics OR a more creative subject, like animation, graphic design or game design
• Larger and more prestigious employers typically ask for a 2:1 degree or higher
• For candidates with non-technical first degrees, postgraduate study in a relevant subject is necessary
• In the US, a Coding Camp can give you access to general software development jobs, after which you can specialise in game development
• It may be possible to enter the gaming development field by becoming known online for your enthusiasm for and knowledge of gaming platforms, styles and backend functions

App developers need similar foundational training to software developers and can also benefit from the following:

• 4-5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (UK)
• 3-4 A Levels (UK)
• High School Diploma (US)
• A Bachelor’s degree in a technical subject, such as computer systems engineering, computer software, mathematics or electronics
• Larger and more prestigious employers typically ask for a 2:1 degree or higher
• For candidates with non-technical first degrees, postgraduate study in a relevant subject is necessary
• Employers may expect ongoing learning and an interest in the latest developments in the tech space
• Additional experience working in app development
• In the US, a Coding Camp may be an acceptable alternative to a formal degree to access general software development roles, from which you can go on to specialise in app development

Skills

All careers in the software development space require high-level technical skills, as well as additional complementary skills.

Software developers benefit from the following:

• Competence in using coding languages like Java, Scala, Python, C/C++ and SQL
• Ability to work as a team
• Self-motivation
• Attention to detail
• Diligence
• Patience
• A love for learning and tech
• Knowledge of the most common software systems, including cloud systems, project management systems and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

Game developers must have the following skills:

• Competence in using C++, which is used extensively in game development
• Understanding of gamer psychology and behaviours
• Technical expertise
• Design skills
• Communication skills
• Creativity and a good imagination
• Ability to work as a team
• Attention to detail
• Innovative

App developers need a range of skills, including the following:

• Excellent mathematical knowledge
• Problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail
• Logical thinking
• Communication skills
• Advanced programming
• Knowledge of coding languages and computer software systems
• Business acumen to understand the business objectives of your client

Working Hours

Most software developers across all specialities work standard office hours of 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. You are unlikely to work evenings, weekends, or holidays unless you are part of an emergency response team dealing with technical incidents that need immediate attention.

Notable Locations

• California, US
• Washington, US
• Salford, UK
• Horsham, UK

Notable Companies

• Apple: The world-famous US tech company relies on a team of software developers to work on its vast range of products
• Meta: Another US-based tech giant, Meta hires developers to maintain and advance its many platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
• Electronic Arts (EA): A major gaming development company that has FIFA and The Sims in its back catalogue
• Creative Assembly: Multiple award-winning UK-based gaming developer
• Microsoft: After acquiring Activision Blizzard, Microsoft now owns Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, among other blockbuster games
• Apadmi: UK-based company specialising in app development and working with big players like the BBC and NHS

Next Steps

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