Computer & Math

Computer Programmers

SOC 15-1251

Write and maintain the code that turns designs into working software.

The job

Median pay

$100k

$76k to $131k typical range

Outlook, 2025 to 2035

Declining

-7.3% projected

Openings a year

4.4k

BLS projection

Typical education

Bachelor's

Our model

AI displacement risk

Very high

How much of this job AI may do instead of the person

Works with AI

4/100

AI alongside the person rather than instead of them

AI exposure

99th pct

More exposed than 99% of occupations · modeled estimate · 90th pct in Microsoft's data

Future-proof

30/100

At a glance

Modeled AI exposure for Computer Programmers ranks at the 99th percentile; displacement risk is very high and works-with-AI 4/100, tilting toward AI replacing tasks. Where the projection for Web & Digital Designers is +6.0%, the figure here is -7.3%. The usual way in is a bachelor's degree. The $100,390 median for Computer Programmers runs $33,200 above the typical occupation we cover (in line with the Computer & Math median). Projected employment change for 2025 to 2035 is -7.3%, 11 points below typical growth across the occupations we cover. About 4,400 job openings come up each year.

Take the next step

Weigh it against Web & Digital DesignersPay, outlook, entry and AI exposure side by side See where it pays mostConnecticut leads at $134k; all states are listed below Find careers like itOpen the map at Computer Programmers and explore its neighbours See open jobsComputer Programmers roles hiring now Learn the skillsCourses for Computer Programmers, who lean most on active listening Real pay & reviewsSelf-reported pay and reviews on Glassdoor

Similar pay in Computer & Math

Key skills

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Speaking
Mathematics

Pay and jobs by state

BLS OEWS May 2025, 50 states and DC. Sorted by jobs; per 1,000 is jobs per thousand workers in the state; vs national compares that rate with the country's. A tilde marks a figure estimated from the parent occupation group where BLS publishes none.

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
California	11,340	0.6	1.1×	$117k
Texas	7,620	0.5	0.9×	$99k
New York	7,020	0.7	1.2×	$104k
Florida	4,760	0.5	0.8×	$93k
Michigan	4,400	1.0	1.7×	$66k
North Carolina	4,120	0.8	1.4×	$81k
New Jersey	3,930	0.9	1.6×	$105k
Pennsylvania	3,120	0.5	0.9×	$89k
Wisconsin	3,080	1.0	1.8×	$88k (estimated)
Virginia	3,070	0.7	1.3×	$122k

All 50 states and DC

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
Washington	2,540	0.7	1.2×	$126k
Maryland	2,490	0.9	1.5×	$126k
Ohio	2,100	0.4	0.6×	$85k
Minnesota	2,070	0.7	1.2×	$107k
Massachusetts	1,930	0.5	0.9×	$128k
Georgia	1,890	0.4	0.7×	$98k
Connecticut	1,650	1.0	1.6×	$134k
Louisiana	1,580	0.8	1.4×	$72k (estimated)
Arizona	1,560	0.5	0.8×	$89k
Indiana	1,520	0.5	0.8×	$97k
Missouri	1,520	0.5	0.9×	$90k
Oregon	1,370	0.7	1.2×	$100k
Illinois	1,280	0.2	0.3×	$73k
Mississippi	1,170	1.0	1.7×	$85k
Nebraska	1,090	1.1	1.8×	$95k
Arkansas	1,050	0.8	1.4×	$112k
Oklahoma	990	0.6	1.0×	$100k
Iowa	950	0.6	1.0×	$79k
Kentucky	950	0.5	0.8×	$95k
Colorado	930	0.3	0.6×	$105k
Tennessee	920	0.3	0.5×	$80k (estimated)
Alabama	890	0.4	0.7×	$94k
Nevada	840	0.5	0.9×	$94k
South Carolina	790	0.3	0.6×	$100k
Utah	690	0.4	0.7×	$105k
New Mexico	600	0.7	1.2×	$84k
Alaska	530	1.6	2.7×	$92k
Kansas	460	0.3	0.5×	$93k
Delaware	450	0.9	1.6×	$104k (estimated)
Hawaii	450	0.7	1.2×	$118k
Maine	450	0.7	1.2×	$102k
New Hampshire	446 (estimated)	0.7 (estimated)	1.1× (estimated)	$74k
Idaho	343 (estimated)	0.4 (estimated)	0.7× (estimated)	$89k
Rhode Island	250	0.5	0.8×	$96k
Washington DC	230	0.3	0.6×	$122k (estimated)
North Dakota	190	0.4	0.8×	$92k
Vermont	170	0.6	0.9×	$90k
Montana	166 (estimated)	0.3 (estimated)	0.6× (estimated)	$90k
West Virginia	140	0.2	0.3×	$65k
South Dakota	70	0.2	0.3×	$58k
Wyoming	60	0.2	0.4×	$82k

Top metro areas

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ6,670 jobs · $127k median
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA3,400 jobs · $107k median
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX3,260 jobs · $102k median
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV2,680 jobs · $130k median
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA2,440 jobs · $131k median
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA1,990 jobs
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD1,770 jobs · $101k median
Raleigh-Cary, NC1,770 jobs

Where this ranks

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Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.