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What is a contract software developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Frank McCown Ph.D.,
Kevin Treu Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a contract software developer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $46.76 an hour? That's $97,254 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 21% and produce 284,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a contract software developer?

Frank McCown Ph.D.Frank McCown Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Harding University

The market is stable for software developers, despite the economic challenges created by the pandemic. Before accepting a job offer, talk to the company's employees through online meetings or email, and see what they think of the company. Do they enjoy their work? Are there opportunities to learn new technologies? How does the company treat their employees? There's a good chance you will be working remotely in your first job, so you will need to exercise a lot of self-discipline, be punctual for online meetings, do the work you've been assigned, and know when to ask questions when you get stuck. Expect a steeper-than-normal learning curve if you are working remotely instead of in an office.
ScoreContract Software DeveloperUS Average
Salary
7.5

Avg. Salary $97,254

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.0

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 30.02%

Black or African American 4.34%

Hispanic or Latino 8.07%

Unknown 4.77%

White 52.64%

Gender

female 14.08%

male 85.92%

Age - 38
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 - 38
Stress level
4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Contract software developer career paths

Key steps to become a contract software developer

  1. Explore contract software developer education requirements

    Most common contract software developer degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.9 %

    Master's

    15.7 %

    Associate

    7.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific contract software developer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Web Application7.82%
    Database5.27%
    SQL Server5.04%
    Java4.82%
    JavaScript4.50%
  3. Complete relevant contract software developer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contract software developers 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 contract software developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contract software developer resumes.
  4. Research contract software developer duties and responsibilities

    • Design simple object-base framework for managing Unix shell scripts and configuration files.
    • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
    • Design, build and install linux media servers.
    • Design the system architecture, API layer, device drivers.
  5. Prepare your contract software developer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contract software developer 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 contract software developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable contract software developer resume templates

    Build a professional contract software developer 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 contract software developer resume.
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
    Contract Software Developer Resume
  6. Apply for contract software developer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a contract software developer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first contract software developer job

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Average contract software developer salary

The average contract software developer salary in the United States is $97,254 per year or $47 per hour. Contract software developer salaries range between $72,000 and $131,000 per year.

Average contract software developer salary
$97,254 Yearly
$46.76 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do contract software developers rate their job?

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Contract software developer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set

Cons

Still have to deal with people :)


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface

Cons

I didn't like how technical it could become


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Designing a new system or making changes to an old one.

Cons

Compensation. Pay and Benefits do not match the time spent on a project. Alabama is the Worst state to live in for SOFTWARE ENGINEER Salaries. 40 to 50 percent less than our peer States.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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