Programming
All the programs, apps, and websites on your computer or your phone work by giving your computer (or phone) instructions about what to do and show based on what you click or type. People in programming/ development jobs use different kinds of software languages (like Spanish or French, but with funny names like Java and Ruby) to write the instructions (or scripts) that these apps and websites follow to make your computer or phone act how you want them to. They also make sure that the instructions written by other people are working like they are supposed to.
People in these jobs are often creative, good at solving problems, and can give good instructions.
Coder
Education: Associates Degree Salary: $20,000 to $69,000Coders write the instructions (or code) that apps, websites, and programs follow and use to tell your computer or phone how to work when you click or type. They write these instructions in different languages depending on how the app or program works. Often they will work on individual chunks of code within a larger program or app.
Developer
Education: Bachelors degree Salary: $70,000 to $99,000Developers must also be able to write instructions (or code) for programs, websites, and computers. However, programmers and coders often work on one app or program using one kind of programming language. Developers use many languages to make sure that apps and programs talk to each other. Because they work with many different apps or programs, developers must also be able to talk and plan with other programmers and coders.
Embedded Technology
Education: Bachelors degree Salary: $70,000 to $99,000Nowadays computers are everywhere, including in our refrigerators, our cars, and even our toasters. Computers help these objects run, and can also connect them to the internet and other objects. This kind of technology is embedded technology, and people who write the instructions for these “mini-computers” not only need to know the programming languages that they use, but how these objects work so that the computers can provide them with the correct instructions.
Mobile Developer
Education: Bachelors degree Salary: $45,000 to $99,000Mobile Developers write instructions (code) for apps and programs that are used on phones and tablets (like the iPhone). Because phones and tablets use different programming languages and work differently than computers, mobile developers need to know these specific languages and how phones and tablets work.
Programmer
Education: Bachelors degree Salary: $45,000 to $69,000Programmers do what coders do but write instructions (or code) that are often more complicated and complete. Coders may write some of the instructions for an app, but programmers make sure that whole app works and can talk to other apps or programs. They may need more knowledge of math and formulas in order to write instructions that repeat or interact with information in a complex way.
Technical Co-Founder
Education: Master or PhD Salary: $100,000 or moreUnderstanding how a business runs is very different from understanding how computers run. Many companies that are focused on technology require two people to start: one who understands business and another who understands computers. These are called co-founders. The Technical Co-Founder understands how computers work and what the business needs to focus on computers and technology.
Tech Leads
Education: Bachelors degree Salary: $70,000 to $100,000 or moreTech Leads are the senior-most member of a development team. They lead programmers, coders, and developers to write instructions that make your technology work the way you want it to.
