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What is a contract software engineer and how to become one
What general advice would you give to a contract software engineer?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Avg. Salary $102,925
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 21%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%
Asian 29.89%
Black or African American 4.49%
Hispanic or Latino 8.23%
Unknown 4.81%
White 52.41%
Genderfemale 10.22%
male 89.78%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is moderate
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Contract software engineer career paths
Key steps to become a contract software engineer
Explore contract software engineer education requirements
Start to develop specific contract software engineer skills
Skills Percentages Java 8.20% Software Development 7.13% Database 5.89% JavaScript 5.61% Http 5.44% Complete relevant contract software engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contract software engineers 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 engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contract software engineer resumes.Research contract software engineer duties and responsibilities
- Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
- Develop API to allow diagnostic modules to be invoke from different languages and browsers.
- Complete rewrite of network interfaces (TCP/IP/UDP) and API's to kernel level functions.
- Work on development of XML reports from older technology for distribution to branches and managers.
Get contract software engineer experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a contract software engineer. The most common roles before becoming a contract software engineer include software engineer, senior software engineer team lead and software developer.Prepare your contract software engineer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contract software engineer 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 engineer 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 engineer resume templates
Build a professional contract software engineer 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 engineer resume.
Apply for contract software engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a contract software engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first contract software engineer job
Are you a contract software engineer?
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Average contract software engineer salary
The average contract software engineer salary in the United States is $102,925 per year or $49 per hour. Contract software engineer salaries range between $76,000 and $138,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do contract software engineers rate their job?
Contract software engineer reviews
Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set
Still have to deal with people :)
I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface
I didn't like how technical it could become
Designing a new system or making changes to an old one.
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.
Updated January 8, 2025
