Four Big Benefits of being a Software Engineer
Are you considering becoming a Software Engineer? Want to better understand the perks?
Endless opportunity
The best thing about being a Software Engineer is that you can develop software for any industry in nearly any situation.
Have interest (or even a degree) in an entirely different field? You can write software for that industry. Science? Real estate? Marketing? Finance?
Want to start your own business? You could build your own product.
Want to freelance or create a side hustle? Learn to code and travel the world. Build a tool or product to create passive income.
Have a special interest in a discipline within software? There are many - and there are sure to be more that emerge as the field grows further.
The only limit is your imagination.
Excellent pay
The software industry has been growing at an amazing pace for decades and it's not showing signs of slowing down. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Software Development is expected to grow 22% from 2019-2029.
Terminal.io's 2021 study has shown that 64% of Software Engineers said that there is a shortage of Engineers in their company - and that shortage will have "concerning consequences on innovation and growth".
Businesses can't find enough people that are qualified and motivated to be successful as Software Engineers. From big tech companies in Silicon Valley to the mom and pop shop in your small hometown, almost all businesses are looking to create an Internet presence, create a product, or they have a need for specialized software for running their business.
The law of supply and demand says that Software Engineers will be paid well.
In September 2021, Glassdoor says that the Average Base Pay for an entry-level Software Engineer in the US is $75,597.
That's on par with the median household income in the United States. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is estimating the median household income in the US for 2021 to be $79,900.
Not to mention that Software Engineer salaries grow fairly quickly as you progress to mid and senior levels.
Location independence
Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more companies are open to remote work. Some do have some limitations, but you can find something that will give you the freedom you're looking for.
Go where you want and create the lifestyle you want.
Travel internationally. Move to another state. Bounce around between AirBnBs. Spend time at the lake house. As long as you have reliable Internet access, you're all good.
Set your schedule
It's not guaranteed by any means, but it is very possible that you can dictate your own working hours.
Even if that's not the case, more companies or teams have been adopting "core" working hours as a result of the pandemic. Core hours are a window of time each day in which meetings occur. Complete the rest of your work asynchronously in the hours that work best for you.
Depending on your arrangement you may even have total control of your time.
Spend time with your family. Do what energizes you.
Learn More
It does not take a Computer Science degree to become a Software Engineer!