Plan B
Software engineering
What They Do
A software engineer applies engineering principles to design, develop, maintain, and test computer software, using programming languages to solve real-world problems
Work Enviroment
A large percentage of software engineers work fully from home or split their time with a corporate office.
How to become one
Becoming a software engineer involves acquiring technical skills through a bachelor’s degree, bootcamps, or self-study, followed by building a portfolio, networking, and practicing technical interviews
Pay
As of May 2026, the average annual pay for a software engineer in the U.S. is approximately $130,000–$145,000, with top earners exceeding $200,000+. Entry-level positions generally start around $75k–$88k, while senior roles often exceed $157k.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for software engineers is exceptionally strong, with employment projected to grow 15% from 2024 to 2034
Similar Occupations
DevOps Engineer, Data Engineer, Cybersecurity Specialist, and Solutions Architect
Interesting Facts About
Software engineers often run on high caffeine (averaging ~2.4 cups daily), spend more time reading/debugging code than writing new code, and are largely self-taught, with roughly 80% using non-traditional education
I used to have this one as my primary job plan, hence this class, however i ended up realizing i would probably enjoy being a writer a LOT more.. -