Computer programmers

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

382k

Average Age

Average Salary

$91,836

Average Male Salary

$94,698

Average Female Salary

$81,372

About

Computer programmers are most often employed by the Computer Systems Design industry. The average yearly wage for Computer programmers was $91,836 in 2020.

The locations that employ the most Computer programmers are Middlesex County (Southwest) PUMA, NJ, Apex & Holly Springs Towns PUMA, NC, and Forsyth County PUMA, GA. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Computer programmers are Middlesex County (Southwest) PUMA, NJ, Apex & Holly Springs Towns PUMA, NC, and Metuchen Borough PUMA, NJ.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Computer & mathematical occupations Computer, engineering, & science occupations

Employment and salary information for the Computer programmers workforce. Computer programmers workforce in 2020 was 382,257 people, of which 21.5% were women and 78.5% were men. Computer programmers are paid most in Riverdale, Fieldston & Kingsbridge PUMA, NY but are relatively concentrated in Middlesex County (Southwest) PUMA, NJ.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

300,179

Male Workforce

± 13.4k

82,078

Female Workforce

± 7.03k

The Computer programmers workforce in 2020 was 382,257 people (21.5% women and 78.5% men). This implies an average annual growth of −9.96% between 2018 (424,557) and 2020 (382,257).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Computer programmers.

During 2020, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were New Jersey ($110,048), California ($108,841), and Washington ($108,298).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$91,836

AVERAGE WAGE

#60 in the ranking (2020)

$55,954

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2020, Computer programmers earned an average of $91,836, $35,882 more than the average national salary of $55,954

The graph shows the ranking of Computer programmers in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2020.

Wage Distribution

Gender

0.307

WAGE GINI

In 2020, Computer programmers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.307, which is lower than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Computer programmers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Computer programmers compared to the entire workforce in the country.

Industry

Information on the industries that employ Computer programmers and on wages for those in the field. Computer Systems Design is the industry that employs the most Computer programmers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Computer programmers, by average wage, is Taxi & limousine service ($293,585).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

382k

2020 Workforce

± 15,160

−5.45%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 5.85%

This graphic shows the share of Computer programmers employed by various industries. Computer Systems Design employs the largest share of Computer programmers at 75.5%, followed by Insurance carriers with 13.3% and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges with 11.1%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Computer programmers in the US. The workforce of Computer programmers in 2020 was 382,257 people, with 21.5% woman, and 78.5% men. The average age of male Computer programmers in the workforce is 42.7 and of female Computer programmers is 44.3, and the most common race/ethnicity for Computer programmers is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Computer programmers in 2020 was 382,257 people, with 21.5% woman, and 78.5% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 35 to 39 years (46,205 people), 30 to 34 years (45,820 people), and 45 to 49 years (45,814 people). Among them they concentrated 36.1% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2020, 6.94% of Computer programmers workers were Hispanic and 93.1% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (75%), Puerto Rican (12.6)%, and Cuban (12.4)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2020, 70.2% of the Computer programmers workforce were White, of which 19.1% were women and 80.9% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Asian (19.6%) and Black (4.89%).

Education & Skills

Data on higher education choices for Computer programmers from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Computer programmers is Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services but the most specialized major according to RCA in 2020 were Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

Type of Majors

Degree

The most common majors achieved by Computer programmers in 2020 (counting all academic degrees) were Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (106,288 people), Engineering (48,439 people), and Business (32,860 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Computer programmers workers were Bachelors Degree (192,076 people), Graduate Degree (84,477 people), and Some college (51,112 people).

The graphic shows the Computer programmers workforce by gender and educational level.