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Job outlook for programming specialists in the United States
Programming specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected programming specialist job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 28,900 new jobs for programming specialists are projected over the next decade.
Programming specialist salaries have increased 6% for programming specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 14,845 programming specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,636 active programming specialist job openings in the US.
The average programming specialist salary is $55,521.
Are programming specialist jobs in demand?
Programming specialist job and salary trends over time
Programming specialist jobs over time
Programming specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,845 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 14,050 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13,803 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 12,872 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 12,385 | 0.00% |
Average programming specialist salary over time
Programming specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,521 | $26.69 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $54,201 | $26.06 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $53,900 | $25.91 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $53,448 | $25.70 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $52,262 | $25.13 | +1.4% |
Programming specialist jobs by state
Most common states for programming specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 138 | 14% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 76 | 13% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 229 | 12% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 88 | 12% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 77 | 12% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 86 | 11% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 674 | 10% |
| 8 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 135 | 10% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 84 | 10% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 540 | 9% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 360 | 9% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 124 | 9% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 94 | 9% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 422 | 8% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 240 | 8% |
| 16 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 115 | 8% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 90 | 8% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 514 | 7% |
| 19 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 415 | 7% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 141 | 7% |
Most common cities for programming specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 5 | 13% | $67,574 |
| 2 | Cupertino | 7 | 12% | $82,982 |
| 3 | Tallahassee | 18 | 9% | $40,290 |
| 4 | Lansing | 7 | 6% | $50,209 |
| 5 | Framingham | 4 | 6% | $57,529 |
| 6 | Washington | 24 | 4% | $74,485 |
| 7 | Little Rock | 6 | 3% | $41,462 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge | 5 | 2% | $49,606 |
| 9 | Orlando | 5 | 2% | $40,085 |
| 10 | Des Moines | 4 | 2% | $42,768 |
| 11 | Baltimore | 9 | 1% | $67,775 |
| 12 | Boston | 8 | 1% | $57,155 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 7 | 1% | $55,167 |
| 14 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $42,124 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 9 | 0% | $75,407 |
| 16 | Chicago | 7 | 0% | $56,431 |
| 17 | San Diego | 6 | 0% | $72,261 |
| 18 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $52,267 |
Programming Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of programming specialist experts
Seattle University
East Tennessee State University
Rowan University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
American University
The Ohio State University at Lima
North Carolina Central University
ETSTech-Ops
American Public University System
ASCP - Associated Skin Care Professionals
Forsyth County, Georgia
American University
Pace University
Frostburg State University
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.
Professor of History, Director, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies ProgramSeattle University
History Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Programming Specialists?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: As a historian of the European Middle Ages, I'm struck by how students this past year have acquired something scarce: historical empathy. The past can seem so remote, so very different from our lived experiences today, and this can make history seem irrelevant. But this fall, I was teaching a section on the bubonic plague, which historians of medicine now know was a global pandemic, not just an epidemic in Europe. Usually, students are fascinated by the gruesome medical details, but not this group.
They did not need or want to look death in the eyes. They wanted to know how did people react? How did they get back to normal? When we ticked off the list of reactions--fear, distrust of science (such as it was in 1348), xenophobia, scapegoating, economic collapse, hoarding supplies, turn to religion, gallows humor about worms crawling about corpses--they got it. When we talked about the aftermath--eat, drink, be merry, and protest the inequality--they got it. That is historical empathy, and I'm sad that this was how it had to be learned, but it will give them broader compassion that can encompass people alive today.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Programming Specialists?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Graduate students will need to refocus on the changing institutional role, being both remote and in-person, and impacting agency goals and performance.
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorRowan University
Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural education
How would you rate the starting salaries for Programming Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Educators are not paid nearly enough. However, working in a state with strong teachers' unions helps to ensure a starting salary that recent graduates can live off of and growth opportunities, albeit modest, over their careers.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Programming Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Ng'ang'a Muchiri: I think the synergy between AI, machine learning, and the humanities, in general, will be exciting. There are whole product lines and industries currently just beyond our reach.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Programming Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Raina Gandhi: In general, more companies will incorporate a digital workforce that utilizes AI, robots, and augmented reality. Specific technology would be near field communications, and software would be Tableau.
The latest consumer group is Generation Z, and this consumer group is still shaping and will take time to mature and shape its behavior and purchasing habits.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Programming Specialists to find work opportunities?
Leah Herner-Patnode: Usually, urban areas of bigger cities and southern states, such as North Carolina, have many openings. Maine, Florida, California, Hawaii, Washington, and Texas are the most open positions.
Elisha Blankson
Program Director NCCU, Assistant ProfessorNorth Carolina Central University
Communication Disorders Department
What type of skills will young Programming Specialists need?
Elisha Blankson: Graduates will need a skill set about the field in which they received training and additional skills useful to the job market. For example, with the changing demographics in the United States, extra skills in information technology and foreign languages will be a plus when entering the job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Programming Specialists to find work opportunities?
Nola Pearce: Depending on your chosen career scope, there are opportunities across the United States - urban, suburban, rural. If you have a wide range of interests and career experience, geographic possibilities are endless. If you are very specific within an industry, material, or application, there are pockets of locations that might be better than another. I recommend that you reach out to professionals within the industry or profession that you have interest in.
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorAmerican Public University System
Public Administration Department
What type of skills will young Programming Specialists need?
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.: The ability to examine all sides of an issue, to include long-term consequences and short-term consequences and unintended consequences and intended outcomes is vital. A focus on goals and objectives, instead of depending on an emotional response, will help lead to the best solutions. Public servants should be adaptable and able to work with people from various cultures. They need to have an understanding of how to work with and motivate individuals and groups. Those who can stay engaged and exercise good judgment will fare best in fluid and changing times.
How do you envision technology impacting Programming Specialists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.: COVID-19 has increased the number of people who are working at home. This means a solid basic knowledge of telecommuting, and the ability to work unsupervised will be necessary. The ability to use remote security protocols, the cloud, and various software platforms will be required.
Emily Morgan
Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)ASCP - Associated Skin Care Professionals
What type of skills will young Programming Specialists need?
Emily Morgan: Standards are elevating in the skincare industry, and this is a good thing! However, esthetic graduates may find that the basics needed to pass their state board exams may not cut it for gainful employment. Estheticians looking for a new job should be prepared to show that they have a strong knowledge of sanitation and safety protocols, treatment techniques, and ingredients. Certifications in more advanced esthetic services will improve the chances of gainful employment. This demonstrates to potential employers that the esthetician is eager to learn, grow, and offer a new means of income. Belonging to an association such as Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) also shows an impressive level of professionalism and maturity, and shows that the esthetician is serious about protecting and flourishing in their new career, which will be very attractive to employers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Programming Specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola: This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
How do you envision technology impacting Programming Specialists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Adelaide Kelly-Massoud: Well, every teacher and teacher candidate was thrust into distance learning. Misguided attempts to foster understanding often leaned our adult distant learning pedagogy. Teachers, and those who prepare teachers, found their job to research, define, design, and implement meaningful teaching and learning using a virtual platform. Words such as synchronous and asynchronous are now a part of our everyday vernacular. But there is a much more optimistic change on the horizon that we can thank coronavirus for.
Communication and collaboration have been forced to change. Parents and Teachers are more connected and have been put in a position to leverage technology to build networks of support and consistent dialog. I urge teachers to leverage this in their future as we work to reopening schools; we should learn from this experience to leverage technology to keep us connected.
Dr. Sheying Chen Ph.D.
Professor of Public Administration/Social PolicyPace University
Department of Public Administration
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Programming Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Sheying Chen Ph.D.: As one of the media articles pointed out, the crisis has hit public-sector jobs once considered safe. Due to social distancing requirements and stay-at-home orders, many people have been working remotely. So, teleworking is one of the biggest trends we see in the job market, with more professionals working at home whenever possible. Even when stay-at-home orders are relaxed, many may continue working from home until the pandemic is fully contained.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Programming Specialists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Sheying Chen Ph.D.: State and local governments re-evaluate their current capacities and plan for reduced revenues in the coming fiscal years. This will result in a shift in hiring in the public sector that may last for some time; thus, graduates should be better prepared for finding job opportunities, networking, etc. There is likely a decrease in demand for graduates in the next couple of years, although the trend is not unique to this field. It's an excellent time to go back to school and get a degree in active pursuit of new skills for the changing work environment. Active learners may demand more creative programming and increased networking that may also help to advance the field of public administration.
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom
Coordinator of M.Ed. Special EducationFrostburg State University
Educational Professions
What type of skills will young Programming Specialists need?
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom: Special education needs are wide and varying, depending on position and state/jurisdiction needs. In general, knowledge and experience in the Autism Spectrum is a high need area. Knowledge and skills in behavioral/mental health are also in demand. Indeed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to adapt instruction online is a new skill area for special education teachers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Programming Specialists to find work opportunities?
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom: Special education teachers are needed everywhere. Urban areas have more openings; however, rural areas struggle to find qualified candidates because their number is limited. We are not producing enough teachers in the United States, and we have a real crisis in special education.