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Software Developers & Software Quality Assurance Analysts & Testers

What They Do:

  • Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
  • Related occupations
  • Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
  • Related occupations
  • Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
  • Related occupations
  • Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
  • Related occupations
  • Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.

Source: O*NET (2022)

Sample Job Titles:

  1. Software Engineers
  2. DevOps Engineers
  3. Software Developers
  4. Java Developers
  5. Full Stack Developers

Outlook in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)

Employment (Q1 2022) 24,935
Projected Annual Growth 2%
Average Entry Level Salary $66,800
Median Salary $102,600

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Supply-Demand Snapshot: Software Developers & Software Quality Assurance Analysts & Testers (all levels)
Entry Level Job Ads
5,407
Current Workforce
24,935

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Preferred Certifications

(Entry level jobs requiring a high school diploma, Associate’s degree, and Bachelor's degree)

  • Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
  • Security Clearance
  • Secret Clearance
  • CompTIA Security+
  • Full Scope Polygraph (FSP Clearance)
  • IAT Level II Certification
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  • Top Secret Clearance
  • CompTIA Security+ CE
  • ITIL Certifications

Top 10 Skills Requested

(entry level jobs requiring up through a bachelor’s degree)

  • Computer Science
  • Software Engineering
  • Java (Programming Language)
  • Agile Methodology
  • Software Development
  • Python (Programming Language)
  • JavaScript (Programming Language)
  • SQL (Programming Language)
  • Linux
  • Automation

Source: Lightcast™ accessed August 10, 2022

Outlook in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)

Employment (Q1 2022) 11,096
Projected Annual Growth 2.2%
Average Entry Level Salary $66,900
Median Salary $101,300

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Supply-Demand Snapshot: Software Developers & Software Quality Assurance Analysts & Testers (all levels)
Entry Level Job Ads
2
Current Workforce
1

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Preferred Certifications

(Entry level jobs requiring a high school diploma, Associate’s degree, and Bachelor's degree)

  • Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
  • Security Clearance
  • Secret Clearance
  • Top Secret Clearance
  • CompTIA Security+
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  • IAT Level II Certification
  • GIAC Certifications
  • CompTIA Security+ CE
  • Salesforce Certification

Top 10 Skills Requested

(entry level jobs requiring up through a bachelor’s degree)

  • Salesforce Certification
  • Salesforce Certification
  • Java (Programming Language)
  • Software Engineering
  • Software Development
  • Python (Programming Language)
  • JavaScript (Programming Language)
  • Amazon Web Services
  • SQL (Programming Language)
  • Automation

Source: Lightcast™ accessed August 10, 2022

Outlook in the Richmond, VA MSA MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)

Employment (Q1 2022) 9,167
Projected Annual Growth 2.1%
Average Entry Level Salary $82,300
Median Salary $108,700

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Supply-Demand Snapshot: Software Developers & Software Quality Assurance Analysts & Testers (all levels)
Entry Level Job Ads
4,243
Current Workforce
9,167

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Preferred Certifications

(Entry level jobs requiring a high school diploma, Associate’s degree, and Bachelor's degree)

  • Salesforce Certification
  • Salesforce Certified Administrator
  • Security Clearance
  • Secret Clearance
  • Software Development Engineer in Test
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  • Microsoft Certified Professional
  • Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  • AWS Certified Developer

Top 10 Skills Requested

(entry level jobs requiring up through a bachelor’s degree)

  • Agile Methodology
  • Computer Science
  • Software Engineering
  • SQL (Programming Language)
  • JavaScript (Programming Language)
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Java (Programming Language)
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Microsoft Azure

Source: Lightcast™ accessed August 10, 2022

Largest Employers in the Region:

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