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Job outlook for software development managers in the United States
Software development manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected software development manager job growth rate is 21% from 2018-2028.
About 284,100 new jobs for software development managers are projected over the next decade.
Software development manager salaries have increased 10% for software development managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 50,496 software development managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 265,464 active software development manager job openings in the US.
The average software development manager salary is $134,747.
Are software development manager jobs in demand?
Software development manager job and salary trends over time
Software development manager jobs over time
Software development manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50,496 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 49,537 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 39,797 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 49,326 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 46,008 | 0.01% |
Average software development manager salary over time
Software development manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $134,747 | $64.78 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $130,307 | $62.65 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $127,357 | $61.23 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $124,874 | $60.04 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $122,052 | $58.68 | +1.5% |
Software development manager jobs by state
Most common states for software development managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 623 | 90% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 4,683 | 63% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,890 | 42% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 441 | 42% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 434 | 41% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,227 | 40% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,534 | 37% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 347 | 36% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 270 | 36% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,949 | 35% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 217 | 35% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,062 | 34% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 667 | 32% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 274 | 32% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,873 | 31% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 591 | 31% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 229 | 31% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 11,814 | 30% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 385 | 29% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,395 | 27% |
Most common cities for software development managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 7 | 18% | $115,265 |
| 2 | Juneau | 6 | 18% | $160,286 |
| 3 | Natick | 5 | 15% | $116,028 |
| 4 | Cupertino | 8 | 13% | $166,388 |
| 5 | Dover | 5 | 13% | $142,282 |
| 6 | Sunnyvale | 8 | 5% | $166,440 |
| 7 | Santa Clara | 6 | 5% | $166,322 |
| 8 | Des Moines | 6 | 3% | $102,249 |
| 9 | Little Rock | 6 | 3% | $102,120 |
| 10 | Boston | 12 | 2% | $116,023 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 9 | 2% | $103,804 |
| 12 | Tampa | 6 | 2% | $103,163 |
| 13 | Denver | 10 | 1% | $102,829 |
| 14 | Sacramento | 7 | 1% | $166,020 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $102,316 |
| 16 | Miami | 5 | 1% | $103,033 |
| 17 | San Francisco | 5 | 1% | $167,421 |
| 18 | Phoenix | 6 | 0% | $118,572 |
| 19 | San Diego | 6 | 0% | $148,444 |
Software Development Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of software development manager experts
California State University - Sacramento
Nova Southeastern University
Seminole State College of Florida
Eastern Washington University
Nova Southeastern University
Aurora University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Minnesota - Duluth
Mount St. Joseph University
University of Richmond
Idaho State University
Taylor University
University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Tulsa
University of Minnesota - Crookston
Gannon University
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sepehr Mohammadian: 1. This is a pretty broad question. CS degree graduates can engage in different tasks and responsibilities based on the nature of their profession. Examples include 1) software engineering, in which the individual's efforts are toward leading or contributing to software development projects, 2) IT management, where the individual mainly oversees technology strategies and their implementation, 3) cybersecurity, where the individual's responsibilities are associated with the protection of systems and data from cyber threats, and 4) data and AI engineering, where the individual works on machine learning applications and analyze and derive insights from large datasets.
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Kin Chung Kwan: Computer science is rapidly growing, with new technologies emerging daily. The desired skill set can vary from year to year. We should always stay updated on the latest global developments and prepare to learn something new. Keeping your skills up-to-date and aligning them with the current needs of employers and target customers is crucial to maximizing salary potential.
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kin Chung Kwan: We are in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. AI development will continue to be a global priority and dominate the tech landscape in the next few years. For computer scientists seeking career progression, gaining a comprehensive understanding of AI is crucial. Furthermore, understanding limitations, ethical considerations, safety and security measures associated with AI is an important responsibility that every computer scientist should be aware of.
Junping Sun Ph.D.
ProfessorNova Southeastern University
Computer Software And Media Applications
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Junping Sun Ph.D.: Computer Science and its applications in various fields are very dynamic and constantly evolving, and anyone in the fields needs to prepare to be adaptive by lifelong learning.
What will help Software Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Junping Sun Ph.D.: Computer science is an algorithm science for problem solving in real world applications. The skills of problem solving require critical thinking with solid foundation of the professional knowledge in the relevant domains. It is crucial to have strong critical thinking skill with sophisticated logical and philosophical perspectives.
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Holger Findling: Most companies have a fixed range in salary for new hires. There is very limited space to negotiate a higher pay. It used to be a standard practice not to stay more than three years with a company because salary increases are associated with labor grade ranges. A larger salary increase can be realized by moving to a different company. Typically, 5% increase vs 3% salary increase. However, a programmer needs to continue studying in the field of interest. Earn a master's degree. Be the best you can be!
What will help Software Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Holger Findling: Technologies are changing very fast, and you must change with it. Don't be rigid. AI is going to increase in the next five years, and the demand for programmers will be high. You would have to take courses studying AI concepts. Bio-Medical fields and Biometrics will be expanding in capabilities and these fields will need a lot of programmers. Take some additional courses, for example Biology and Chemistry.
Dan Tappan
Eastern Washington University
Computer Software And Media Applications
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Dan Tappan: As much as possible, become a subject matter expert in the domain you're working in. The biggest problems we have are in not understanding the customer's problem and not understanding the customer's problem domain. Neither side is conversant in the other's world. We can't expect the customer to learn software development, so we have to learn about their world to bridge this gap.
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dan Tappan: This field changes so rapidly, it's hard to predict. Artificial intelligence has really taken off recently. There's no clear distinction between AI, machine learning, big data, and related areas anymore. They all blend together. These aren't just used as solutions to problems; they're also playing an ever-larger role in the tools we use to solve those problems. ChatGPT, for example, helps in writing documentation, and Google products help in writing code. Solid skills in these areas can streamline the development process.
What will help Software Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Dan Tappan: There's not much room for salary negotiation as a new graduate with no experience. Every CS graduate shares roughly the same required background. What often distinguishes one applicant from another, or boosts the salary, is non-required experience with personal projects, contributions to open-source development, and so on. This shows not only applications of the required background, but also the initiative to learn and do more than is expected for the degree.
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Dr. Frank Mitropoulos Ph.D.: As you begin your career in Computer Applications, remember that the technology industry highly values adaptability and continuous learning. Commit to staying current with emerging technologies, programming languages, tools, and methodologies. Engage in online courses, attend workshops, and network with other professionals in your field. This dedication to self-learning and the connections you make can lead to job opportunities, mentorship, and collaborations that could shape your future career path.
What will help Software Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Frank Mitropoulos Ph.D.: As we look toward the future of careers in Computer Applications, several skills stand out for their growing importance. These skills revolve around specific technologies that are expected to continue to grow and evolve. Technologies related to Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, and Data Science are quickly evolving and being applied across the technology sector. Cloud Computing: Given the widespread adoption of Cloud services, Cloud computing expertise is indispensable. Understanding how to leverage platforms like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud is crucial to developing scalable, efficient solutions that meet business needs. Artificial Intelligence: AI and Machine Learning are transforming the world. Skills in these areas to solve real-world problems will be even more critical in the future. Cybersecurity: Digital threats are becoming more sophisticated. Safeguarding data, networks, and systems will require encryption, intrusion detection, development, and regulation skills. Data Science: Skills in Data Science will be increasingly sought after as businesses embrace data-driven decision-making. Extracting meaningful insights from extensive datasets and effectively communicating these findings will be essential. Soft skills: Finally, soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication cannot be overlooked. Adapting, communicating, and leading will be essential for success.
Dr. Ramona Baima
Senior Lecturer of Mathematics & Field Experience SupervisorAurora University
Mathematics
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Dr. Ramona Baima: For sure, in the next 3-5 years the level of technology will increase exponentially with the addition of AI. It is very important for graduates to continue to want to learn and improve their skills in the field of computer science and advanced mathematics in order to be able to be creative, come up with and implement unique ideas.
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Ahmed Imteaj PH.D.: Research Salary Trends, Acquire In-Demand Skills, Gain Relevant Experience, Customize Your Resume and Cover Letter, Prepare for Salary Negotiations, Consider Additional Benefits.
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Evgenia Smirni: Try to have as many internships as possible as a student. The most important one is the internship of the junior year where typically companies make return offers for a regular position - try to make the most out of it!
Ali Alouani
Professor of ECEWhat general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Ali Alouani: Engineering and Computer Sciences
MARLA KRAMER
Assistant Vice President of Marketing and CommunicationsWhat will help Software Development Managers increase their earning potential?
MARLA KRAMER: It is unlikely that software development will be fully automated in the near future. Writing correct and efficient applications is a skill set that will only grow as we invent more ways to improve the quality of our lives. As more and more commerce and critical services migrate onto the internet, IS development will require a deeper knowledge of cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud computing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Information Security Analysis jobs are expected to grow by 32% over the next 10 years. The BLS estimates Software Developers, Quality Assurance and Testing will grow by 25% over the next decade.
Right now, however, software development is going through a lull because of competition from abroad. Being an expert in at least two popular programming languages, having a solid theoretical foundation, and being able to innovate is pivotal. Artificial Intelligence is being deployed to solve some problems now, thanks to the powerful computers we have today. Learning to effectively use AI frameworks as part of your application development will add a lot of value to your skillset.
Rich Maclin
ProfessorUniversity of Minnesota - Duluth
Computer Systems Networking And Telecommunications
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rich Maclin: Maximizing your salary potential when you start probably will follow from being willing to relocate. Beyond that, I suspect soft skills (being able to make presentations, writing well, interacting with people, etc.) are the most useful thing for people looking to maximize that potential. Of course, given the large number of fields computer science touches the maximization process likely depends on what you want to do. And for that matter, I suspect many of our students would say they are looking to do well salary-wise but to be happy and fulfilled by their work as well. This would again go back to the question of what are you looking to do in life, and there are a lot of different answers to that question. At this point, there seem to be more computer jobs (again, if you are willing to relocate) than people to fill them, so salary is likely just one aspect of many for students to consider.
Rebecca Allen
Mount St. Joseph University
Special Education And Teaching
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Rebecca Allen: AI, for sure. I have heard it said that AI might not replace humans, rather humans who know how to use AI well may replace humans who don't.
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca Allen: Get hands-on experience. Join the workstudy program, take the co-op or the internship. Be sure to apply what you've learned!
Ahmed Temani
Senior InstructorUniversity of Richmond
Computer/Information Technology Administration And Management
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ahmed Temani: This one I'm not sure how to answer as it is too broad. I would say work hard and do quality work, but that seems obvious.
What Software Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nikyra Capson: Don't be afraid of being rejected. If they see a job they want, apply. Even if they don't think they'll get it, still apply. The worst thing that could happen is being told no. Not applying is an automatic no, so they might as well try.
Dr. Jonathan Denning
Associate Professor and Department Co-chairTaylor University
Computer Science
What general advice would you give to a Software Development Manager?
Dr. Jonathan Denning: Ask lots of questions. Don't assume that the company is going to offer you a job with the very best benefits. Ask questions that help you understand what the typical range of pay will be, and what things are they looking for to help make decisions on pay.
Travis Mandel Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
Department of Computer Science
What soft skills should all Software Development Managers possess?
Travis Mandel Ph.D.: Although computer science seems like a highly technical field, soft skills are really what differentiates software engineers. One of the most important qualities of any software engineer is explaining their code clearly at various levels of technical depth and explaining why certain design decisions were made. You could write code that does amazing things, but if that code consists of snippets you pasted from StackOverflow without really fully understanding them, it will be a huge headache for anyone who needs to come into the codebase later and maintain or update it.
Another one is asking the right questions. Imagine you are dropped into a huge codebase and asked to add a new feature (very common!). There's no time to understand everything that is going on, but on the other hand, you need to understand enough of the code to do your task effectively, which involves asking questions. A failure to ask questions will likely result in you wasting a huge amount of time working on something that is ultimately not useful, for instance, re-implementing a complex function that already exists somewhere in the codebase.
Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.
Associate Professor of CIS, J. Bradley Oxley Professor of Computer Information SystemsUniversity of Tulsa
School of Accounting and CIS at the Collins College of Business
What skills will help Software Development Managers earn the most?
Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.: Each of the areas and skills mentioned above is important. The way to earn the most in any of the varied specialties in IT depends on having the right blend of technical and soft skills for a particular employer and, frankly, being the right person at the right time for the right employer. That sounds ambiguous, but the point is that those looking for IT work need to research which companies, locations, and specific jobs pay the most with open positions that match their skillset. And, if you find that dream job with the dream pay but you don't have the requisite skills, there are plenty of opportunities to show a potential employer that you are willing to learn the skills to succeed in that position.
Christine Bakke
LecturerUniversity of Minnesota - Crookston
Math, Science & Technology Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Software Development Manager job market given the pandemic?
Christine Bakke: For many years remote tech support has been a growing field, but it was not the norm. Today, remote tech support and IT management have become crucial for daily operations. Remote work requires a solid IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, capable equipment, and quality software. The need for educated and experienced MIS / ITM / CIS will continue to increase.
Trends toward remote offices will become more acceptable and common; while some companies will return to the office en masse, others will allow more flexibility or become hybrid, and some will truly embrace the remote office. Use of remote tools such as Zoom will stay strong, as they provide global access at a huge cost benefit.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Software Development Managers?
Christine Bakke: MIS is a technical business degree which is offered with slightly different emphasis depending on the school's home department. For example, if a business department houses the degree it is often referred to as MIS; however, when Information Technology or Computer Science departments house this degree, the program would be called Information Technology Management (ITM) or Computer Information Systems (CIS). Each university has the autonomy to offer variations based on their specializations. Even though the programs can differ slightly, in general students receiving any of these three degrees receive an education in three areas: technical, management/business, and soft skills. Note that the US Bureau of Labor Statistics directs queries for all three fields (ITM, MIS and CIS) to the same data page (see answer to question 3).
How have salaries changed over time for Software Development Managers?
Christine Bakke: In previous questions, I have used my own wording; however, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is the most accurate source for an answer to this question:
The median pay for ITM, MIS, & CIS (all listed together at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics):
$146,360 per year
$70.37 per hour
"Employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 11 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. These occupations are projected to add about 531,200 new jobs. Demand for these workers will stem from greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security. "
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Software Development Managers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: Computing is ubiquitous, and with more industries moving to remote work, location is becoming less critical. If the internet reaches a place reliably, computing jobs can be located there.
How do you envision technology impacting Software Development Managers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: Breadth and depth: Computing is becoming more like engineering; where the value of the product, its lifetime risks, costs, and benefits are more critical than just it's roll-out. So the engineering competencies that have always been a part of computing will become more central. Computing is also expanding; the role of data and the shift of once-research technologies (like machine learning) into production applications will continue to require computing graduates to broaden their base and continue as learners. This will cause shifts in what is considered 'fundamental' and the need for professionals to continue to hone and redevelop their technical skill sets.