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Boston Career Explorer

Computer and Mathematical

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

Also called: Application Developer, Application Integration Engineer, Developer, DevOps Engineer (Development Operations Engineer), Infrastructure Engineer, Software Architect

Compare with my current job (Judicial Law Clerks)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$166,090
$79.85/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
42,310
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+7.7%
3,170 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$102,950$131,880$166,090$183,740$214,100

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  • Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
  • Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure76 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 82
  • Language-model AIOE 75
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 72

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is higher, and AI tools are already used substantially in software work. Tools can help with writing code, testing, documentation, and status reports. Working with users and teams to decide what to build, and weighing project limits, still relies on people. Massachusetts jobs are projected to grow 7.7% from 2024 to 2034.

Likely to change

  • Writing and modifying code
  • Drafting documentation and status reports

Still relies on people

  • Understanding what users actually need
  • Working with teams on design tradeoffs

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

74 programs near Boston (plus 47 graduate)

Related occupations

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