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Computer Programmers vs Software Developers

Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index

A factual, source-backed comparison of Computer Programmers and Software Developers on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”

Computer Programmers Software Developers
Median pay · BLS OEWS
$98,670
$133,080
Employment · BLS OEWS
109,870
1,654,440
AI exposure (percentile) · task overlap, not automation
90th pct
85th pct

At a glance

Dimension Computer Programmers Software Developers
Median pay $98,670 $133,080
Employment 109,870 1,654,440
Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection Declining (-6.0%) Growing fast (+15.8%)
Annual openings · BLS projection 5,500 115,200
Typical education · O*NET Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
AI exposure · published exposure studies High · 90th pct High · 85th pct
Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk — —
Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index — —
Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman — —

Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.

Skills

Shared: Computers and Electronics, Programming, Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension, Near Vision, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Problem Sensitivity, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Mathematics, Oral Expression, English Language, Reading Comprehension, Systems Analysis, Customer and Personal Service, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Written Expression, Speech Recognition, Speaking, Mathematics, Active Learning, Social Perceptiveness, Operations Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Time Management, Mathematical Reasoning, Selective Attention, Speech Clarity, Monitoring, Coordination, Fluency of Ideas, Originality.

Specific to Computer Programmers

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Administration and Management
  • Number Facility

Specific to Software Developers

  • Category Flexibility
  • Technology Design
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Education and Training

Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).

Tools & technology

Shared: Object or component oriented development software , Web platform development software , Enterprise application integration software , File versioning software , Operating system software , Development environment software , Data base user interface and query software , Document management software , Graphics or photo imaging software , Data base management system software , Content workflow software .

Specific to Computer Programmers

Specific to Software Developers

Full profiles

This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Computer Programmers or Software Developers — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.

More comparisons

Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

Cite this page
Plain

Singulariki. "Computer Programmers vs Software Developers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/computer-programmers-vs-software-developers

APA

Singulariki. (2026). Computer Programmers vs Software Developers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/computer-programmers-vs-software-developers

BibTeX 
@misc{singulariki-computer-programmers-vs-software-developers,
  title  = {Computer Programmers vs Software Developers},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/compare/computer-programmers-vs-software-developers}
}

Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.