What are the pros and cons of being a computer programmer?

The pros and cons of being a computer programmer relate to job satisfaction rates, good compensation, and a fast-paced working environment. Here are the top pros and cons of being a computer programmer:

Computer Programmer vs. Software Developer

A computer programmer is a tech professional that writes code and creates apps, while a software developer is the designer behind the app. A computer programmer spends most of their time creating and testing new code, fixing glitches, and streamlining code to simplify the writing and reduce the chance of errors. They will use a variety of programming languages and test for errors to make sure that the code functions properly and the apps or software are running as expected.

How To Become A Computer Programmer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a computer programmer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Brian Glas,

Christian Hansen Ph.D.

Computer programmers design and create software programs by writing codes that help the software application run smoothly. What you are doing as a computer programmer is turning design programs made by a software developer into instructions the computer can follow. As such, you will test them and make sure the computer responds to the instructions as expected. Maintaining operating systems, troubleshooting system errors, profiling and analyzing algorithms, editing source-code, integrating systems and software are also the responsibilities of a computer programmer.

As a computer programmer, you must be analytical, detail-oriented, and you must be able to focus for a long time. You must also have problem-solving skills, and you must be experienced with Java, C++, SQL, C#, and HTML. You need a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer programming, and you must have a proven experience as a computer programmer. You will earn an average of $66,143 per year.

What general advice would you give to a computer programmer?

Brian Glas

Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Union University

Build relationships: Different technologies will interest and challenge you, but throughout your career, you'll find that it's the relationships that are the most important. This is harder to grasp earlier in your career, but much easier to understand after 15-20 years.
Gain different perspectives: Spend time with people in other roles that your job interacts with, and gain a solid understanding of how they view things; this is most valuable for career progression and understanding of how your work fits into the big picture.

ScoreComputer ProgrammerUS Average

Salary

5.5

Avg. Salary $70,979

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.1

Growth rate -7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 14.97%

Black or African American 5.06%

Hispanic or Latino 8.93%

Unknown 4.72%

White 66.15%

Gender

female 29.82%

male 70.18%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

5.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a computer programmer

Explore computer programmer education requirements

Most common computer programmer degrees

Bachelor's

59.9 %

Associate

22.2 %

Master's

10.0 %

Start to develop specific computer programmer skills

Skills	Percentages
C #	11.83%
Java	9.48%
JavaScript	8.79%
Object Oriented Programming	5.24%
CSS	4.66%

Complete relevant computer programmer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New computer programmers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a computer programmer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real computer programmer resumes.

Gain additional computer programmer certifications

Computer programmer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific computer programmer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for computer programmers include Programming in C# Certification and Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC).

More About Certifications

Research computer programmer duties and responsibilities

Manage the entire corporate intranet and the plethora of applications and web pages that are require for daily activities.
Utilize proprietary software to create custom web pages using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Assist with various Java web application development projects.
Can do C++ and a little Linux.

Prepare your computer programmer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your computer programmer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a computer programmer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable computer programmer resume templates

Build a professional computer programmer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your computer programmer resume.