| Computer software engineers are responsible for | | | | System software engineers may work alone |
| using mathematics and computer science in order to | | | | depending on the size of the business that their |
| develop and test computer programming. They will | | | | servicing, and they may have assistants underneath |
| have the primary responsibility of developing a | | | | them in order to perform the more routine tasks of |
| number of different programs, which can include | | | | installing operating systems and other systems |
| word processing applications and computer games, in | | | | applications. |
| addition to operating systems and network | | | | These individuals will frequently work 40 hours a |
| applications. | | | | week in clean and comfortable office environments, |
| Computer engineering professionals will first analyze | | | | although they may experience repetitive motion |
| the needs of their clients, and then they will create a | | | | strain and back discomfort. Most employers will |
| detailed set of algorithm instructions which can include | | | | require a bachelor's degree and experience in |
| programming, although this will usually be outsourced | | | | computer programming, and four fifths of all |
| to computer programmers. Applications software | | | | software engineers had at least a bachelors degree. |
| engineers will often use raw codes such as Java, in | | | | In 2006, software engineers had about 850,000 jobs |
| order to create applications software, while system | | | | in America, with most working on applications, and |
| engineers will often help a corporation organize its | | | | about a third working on systems software. A |
| operating systems. | | | | minority of these individuals are freelance computer |
| Systems software will usually require a lot of | | | | programmers. Job prospects overall are expected to |
| tinkering in order to make sure that it can be utilized | | | | be quite good and this field will be one of the fastest |
| effectively by corporations, and engineers will | | | | areas of growth in America over the next decade. |
| frequently need to modify operating systems and | | | | In 2006, the middle 50th percentile of these |
| programming in order to meet the needs of their | | | | professionals made between $63,000 and $98,000, |
| clients. | | | | while computer systems engineers made more at |
| These individuals will usually work in teams which can | | | | between $68,000 and $105,000. In 2007, Robert Half |
| include marketing departments, manufacturing, | | | | Technology reported that software engineers made |
| engineering, designers, and artists, in order to work | | | | between $66,500 and $99,750 annually. |
| together to bring a software product to market. | | | | |