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What is a software development manager and how to become one
A software development manager oversees the development of software applications. They lead a team to design, create, and maintain software solutions that meet business requirements. A software development manager ensures the on-time completion of projects while meeting quality standards. They work with stakeholders to identify goals and priorities, allocate resources, and manage risks. A software development manager also hires and trains team members, as well as providing ongoing support and mentorship to promote success.
What general advice would you give to a software development manager?
Brian Glas
Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Union University
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.
Avg. Salary $134,747
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 21%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%
Asian 11.99%
Black or African American 6.24%
Hispanic or Latino 8.82%
Unknown 4.70%
White 67.73%
Genderfemale 14.92%
male 85.08%
Age - 43American 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 - 43Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a software development manager?
Pros
High salary and good job prospects
Possibility of flexible work arrangements, such as remote work
Potential for career advancement and growth
Opportunity to network with other professionals in the industry
Access to training and development opportunities for both technical and managerial skills
Satisfaction of seeing a project through from conception to completion
Cons
High stress and pressure to meet deadlines and deliver quality work
Long hours, including evenings and weekends, may be required to meet project demands
Risk of burnout due to the intensity of the work
Risk of feeling disconnected from hands-on coding and development work
Potential for communication breakdowns between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders
Software development manager career paths
Key steps to become a software development manager
Explore software development manager education requirements
Start to develop specific software development manager skills
Skills Percentages Java 17.29% AWS 8.69% Architecture 8.29% Project Management 4.27% Database 3.63% Complete relevant software development manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software development managers 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 software development manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software development manager resumes.Research software development manager duties and responsibilities
- Plan and manage release schedules, upgrades and patches, maintenance windows.
- Justify, evaluate, hire, and manage offshore contractors to supplement staff for a large HTML form coding project.
- Manage workflow of projects through JIRA, ensuring that all necessary reviews are perform and projects are successfully release to production.
- Manage all phases of application design--from requirements gathering, coding and prototyping through system testing, integration and deployment.
Prepare your software development manager resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your software development manager resume.
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Apply for software development manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a software development manager 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 software development manager job
Are you a software development manager?
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Average software development manager salary
The average software development manager salary in the United States is $134,747 per year or $65 per hour. Software development manager salaries range between $100,000 and $180,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do software development managers rate their job?
Software development manager reviews
Able to see ideation to fruition and achieve success together as a team.
If company is not supportive of new technology advancement.
Reviewing
This can be a tough and demanding job but rewarding in the end since you can see the benefit of the software that you have built through the eyes of the user
Reviewing
Man Management is often an art and skill that people in software development may not have
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Updated January 8, 2025
