With 69% of U.S. companies struggling to hire enough workers, tech roles are among the hardest to fill. By 2026, the shortage of software engineers is expected to reach over 1.2 million. The software development industry is growing fast, with a 22% growth projected by 2030, and the stiff competition to hire developers has led to increased salaries and improved benefits.
This article will cover how much software engineers in Massachusetts earn, what they do, and how you can become one. Read on if you're interested in learning more about this lucrative industry.
How Much Do Software Engineers Make in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, software engineers make more than many other states. The median salary for a software engineer in Massachusetts is $119,555 per year, more than the U.S. median of $107,510 per year. According to Hack Reactor, the northeast region has more states that pay high salaries to developers than any other. In some instances, companies will offer additional perks, like stock options, as part of a software engineer’s total compensation.
However, the cost of living tends to be higher in the northeast than in many parts of the U.S. Comparing the cost of living in different areas can help you evaluate how far your salary will go.
Top Companies for Software Engineers in Massachusetts
On Indeed.com, there are currently almost 10,000 job listings for software engineers in Massachusetts. Some of the top companies are:
IBM
IBM has 14 locations in Massachusetts. It should come as no surprise that this tech giant is one of the best companies for software engineers. IBM provides an inclusive environment where you can work on life-changing projects such as curing diseases, predicting the weather, and cleaning oceans. Additionally, they offer competitive benefits like paid time off, comprehensive health insurance, retirement savings, and capital accumulation programs.
Oracle
Oracle is a global software company that creates solutions for various industries. You'll work on innovative projects that help companies transform how they do business. They provide a range of healthcare plans that promote wellness. In addition to the typical 401(k), Oracle's Employee Stock Purchase Plan allows employees to buy discounted stock. Additional perks include tuition reimbursement and generous paid time off.
MathWorks
MathWorks develops Simulink and MATLAB, which transforms the way scientists and engineers work and think. One of the biggest perks of working at MathWorks is the Stakeholder bonus program that has paid out every quarter since 1993. They offer on-site fitness centers, garages with electric charging stations, life-work balance, and a cash referral bonus. Employees also receive health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, learning and development, and travel assistance.
What Skills and Qualifications Are Needed for a Software Engineer?
Software engineers need to be proficient in up-to-date programming languages, platforms, frameworks, processes, and tools such as:
Languages like Python, Ruby, SQL, C++, and Java
The software development process and life cycle
Object-oriented design
Software testing and debugging
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Soft skills are also necessary for software engineers since part of the job involves interacting with people from different backgrounds, not just other engineers. These skills include the ability to:
Collaborate with team members, other departments, and stakeholders
Communicate ideas with technical and non technical people
Multitask while working on different aspects of software development
Effectively manage time to meet deadlines
Salary Comparisons for Similar Professions
Professions similar to software engineering pay more than the U.S. median income of $35,977 per year. However, most pay less than the median software engineering income:
System administrator: $76,726
Quality assurance engineer: $80,592
Technical sales engineer: $102,843
IT manager: $93,720
Risk analyst: $86,154
What Job Titles Do Software Engineers Have?
There's a lot of confusion about job titles for software engineers. There's no industry standard for job titles, so each company makes up its own. A role that is called software engineer at one company may be called a software developer at another, even though they have the same job duties.
In general, any job title that includes "junior," "entry-level," or "beginner" is seeking someone with less than two years of experience. Sometimes these jobs are described as internships if they're limited in scope or are temporary.
Midlevel software engineering job titles often don't include a modifier. If you look at the job description, these jobs generally target developers who have two to five years of experience.
Senior-level software engineering job titles usually include "senior-level," "advanced," "lead," or "principal" in the title. These jobs are usually reserved for engineers with over five years of experience.
Job titles for software engineers usually include a seniority level description as well as some combination of the terms below:
Software engineer
Software developer
Software programmer
Software design engineer
Software tester
Staff developer
Web developer
Mobile developer
What Does a Software Engineer Do?
Software engineers design and create computer programs and applications using programming languages, frameworks, and other tools. The day-to-day responsibilities of software engineers can include:
Design and maintain software systems
Write, test, and debug code
Optimize software for performance and speed
Document systems and applications with version control tools for maintenance and upgrades
How Do I Become a Software Engineer?
There are many different paths to becoming a software engineer, and each method has advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common ways to learn software development are:
DIY program
In the early days of programming, many of the best engineers taught themselves programming. There are over 1.5 billion results for "learn software engineering" on Google. If you're motivated and resourceful, you can teach yourself with the information available on blogs, YouTube channels, tutorials, and challenges. The advantage of this method is that you can choose resources that interest you. The disadvantages are that you won't have much support and may not learn everything you need to know. It may be hard for you to determine if you're ready to apply for jobs.
Open courseware programs
Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and MIT OpenCourseWare offer structured programs for free or small fees, and some provide certifications for an additional fee after you complete the course. While you may have forums for discussing assignments with other students, you won't have instructors or individual support.
Software engineering bootcamps
A bootcamp is an intensive, short-term program where you can learn software engineering in far less time than earning a computer science degree. The University of Massachusetts Global Software Engineering Bootcamp prepares you for a career in software engineering with hands-on projects, a full-stack capstone project, one-on-one mentorship, and career services.
You'll learn from the top industry experts and have one-on-one support throughout your learning journey. You'll finish the bootcamp with a personalized capstone project based on your preferred tech stack to show hiring managers. The program is designed for nine months, but it's 100% online so that you can learn at your own pace.
Conclusion
There is no better time to break into the lucrative field of software engineering. With the competitive advantage you'll gain from UMass Global's Software Engineering Bootcamp, you'll have all of the tools you need to begin your new career.
Reach out today to find out how we can help you achieve your goals. Whether you're interested in front-end, back-end, or full-stack development, you'll learn the skills you need to impress potential employers and get the job you want.