Software Engineering Careers for 2027
10 jobs a software engineering or computer science degree leads to. Each guide covers what the work involves, the usual way in, which degree fits, and where the jobs are, with pay and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (wages from OEWS, May 2025; growth from BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35).
Careers
Building software
Highest median pay first.
- Software Engineer Career Guide What software developers do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $135,980 median · 10.2% projected growth
- Database Administrator Career Guide What database administrators do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $104,620 median · 0.1% projected decline
- QA Engineer Career Guide What software quality assurance analysts and testers do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $104,300 median · 5.7% projected growth
- Computer Programmer Career Guide What computer programmers do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $100,390 median · 7.3% projected decline
- Web Developer Career Guide What web developers do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $92,650 median · 3.8% projected growth
Careers
Beyond development
Highest median pay first.
- IT Manager Career Guide What computer and information systems managers do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $175,140 median · 15.8% projected growth
- Computer Research Scientist Career Guide What computer and information research scientists do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $140,300 median · 21.8% projected growth
- Information Security Analyst Career Guide What information security analysts do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $129,180 median · 21% projected growth
- Data Scientist Career Guide What data scientists do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $120,230 median · 34.6% projected growth
- Computer Systems Analyst Career Guide What computer systems analysts do, how people get into the job and where the work is. $105,850 median · 7.9% projected growth