Computer Programmers: Salary, Career Path, Job Outlook, & Education

Computer programmers are highly trained professionals who write and test code that allows computer systems to function properly. These workers must be proficient in many programming languages and have strong creativity and analytical skills. Many companies that rely on technology to store data and carry out business functions employ these professionals.

Licenses/Certifications

Programmers can become certified in specific programming languages or for vendor-specific programming products. Some companies require their computer programmers to be certified in the products they use.

Median pay: How much do Computer Programmers make?$79,840 Annual Salary$38.39 per hour

What Is Computer Programing

Computer programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed instructions, called programs that computers follow to perform their functions. Programmers also conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. Recent technical innovations in programming - advanced computing technologies and sophisticated new languages and programming tools, for example - have redefined the role of a programmer and elevated much of the programming work done today.

There are well compensated positions for Application Programmers and Systems Programmers in consulting businesses, data processing firms and software houses.