{"id":6457,"date":"2026-07-30T14:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/blog\/?p=6457"},"modified":"2026-07-30T14:20:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:20:55","slug":"software-developer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/blog\/2026\/07\/30\/software-developer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to become a software developer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6457\" class=\"elementor elementor-6457\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-15fa5afe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"15fa5afe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7181b875\" data-id=\"7181b875\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e7f2606 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e7f2606\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 22-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:image {\"id\":6461,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" class=\"wp-image-6461\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pacific.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RS122108_Sophie-Student-Life-Photos-9.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Our world runs on software.\u00a0The applications you use every day on your phone or computer are software.\u00a0And your devices rely on operating systems, also software, to make all its components work together.\u00a0Nearly every\u00a0industry in the world relies on technology\u00a0that runs or is programmed by software.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Not only does software development span across many industries,\u00a0it\u00a0has plenty of room for specialization and\u00a0needs more people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>According to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/computer-and-information-technology\/software-developers.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, software developer roles are expanded to grow by 15% in 2034.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0five times the average growth rate for all jobs, which sits at just 3%. Plus, the\u00a0median yearly salary is over $131,000 per year, according to the BLS.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0trying to get a better handle on this field,\u00a0here\u2019s\u00a0what you need to know about what software developers do, how you can enter the field and what you should do to succeed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a software developer<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A software developer is the person who designs,\u00a0programs\u00a0and\u00a0maintains\u00a0the applications and operating systems you rely on every day.\u00a0You\u00a0benefit\u00a0from their work, even when you\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0see it. Hospitals, restaurants,\u00a0stores\u00a0and\u00a0other businesses\u00a0rely\u00a0on\u00a0digital architecture for everyday operations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cTo me, it\u2019s basically trying to solve a complicated puzzle using really basic pieces,\u201d says\u00a0Maxim\u00a0Veligan \u201919,\u00a0a Pacific alum <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/engineering\/academics\/computer-science-degree-bs\">with a degree in computer science<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cIf you like solving problems, if you like\u00a0really detail-oriented\u00a0things, then working with\u00a0software is probably a good fit for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That\u2019s\u00a0a broad summary of the\u00a0job,\u00a0and individual software development roles can vary\u00a0widely\u00a0across industries. Different companies need software to do different things. Some may produce consumer goods while others need specialized or unique software to power\u00a0their\u00a0own machines,\u00a0technologies\u00a0or systems.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>For Pacific computer science\u00a0professor,\u00a0Solomon Berhe, that\u2019s part of the draw.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIf you work in a hospital, you\u00a0naturally\u00a0learn a lot about the hospital domain. In automotive, you learn about automotive. You\u00a0gain knowledge\u00a0beyond your technical skills,\u201d he says. \u201cIn my experience,\u00a0many people in\u00a0software and computer science are\u00a0naturally\u00a0curious,\u00a0and\u00a0I think\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0real\u00a0advantage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Maxim, for example, helps\u00a0maintain\u00a0ethernet switches at a commercial level.\u00a0Certain businesses, like data centers, rely on dozens or even hundreds of servers that are connected by ethernet. He helps make sure\u00a0that\u00a0runs smoothly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThese switches run their own operating systems,\u201d he says. \u201cI work on the kernel\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0running\u00a0all of\u00a0these switches. And so,\u00a0a lot of my day-to-day job is working on the kernel output project, where we go from one major version to another. Our hardware also needs high-level support,\u00a0so we support that, too, like bug fixes.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The benefits of a traditional education for software developers<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The most traditional route into software development is through a four-year degree, often with a major in computer science or software engineering.\u00a0These degrees give you a foundation in programming, systems\u00a0design\u00a0and other essential skills for developers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That foundation is one of the major benefits of\u00a0a traditional\u00a0college education.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0so much room to\u00a0specialize\u00a0that your choices can be a little overwhelming. When you\u00a0learn a little bit about everything, you learn what\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0really\u00a0interested\u00a0in.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Another benefit of\u00a0university\u00a0education is\u00a0your community.\u00a0You build connections and friendships that you take with you past graduation, which\u00a0are an asset in your career and personal life.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Plus, your joint projects for class or clubs\u00a0teach you how to work on a team.\u00a0Collaboration is\u00a0an essential skill in the working world and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0one that Berhe focuses on teaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cOne of my goals in teaching is teamwork, learning how to build a product together incrementally,\u201d he says. \u201cMost projects involve teammates and stakeholders. Learning soft skills, such as communication, is just as important for long-term success.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your professors at college are a resource, too. They are already experts in the field of computer science and may have previously worked in industry. They can give\u00a0you specialized guidance, especially at smaller universities where you can develop closer relationships.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Universities can also help connect you with research, work or internship opportunities through job boards, career fairs,\u00a0career services\u00a0centers\u00a0or other programs.\u00a0Pacific\u00a0has the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/engineering\/cooperative-education-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cooperative Education program,<\/a>\u00a0where partner\u00a0companies\u00a0offer paid internship positions exclusively to Pacific engineering and computer science students.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>These Co-op internships can even lead to full-time jobs, which is how Maxim landed his first role after graduation\u00a0at Intel.\u00a0He took advantage of every opportunity he could find\u00a0and\u00a0stayed on after his Co-op to do part-time work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI networked as much as I\u00a0possibly could\u00a0and met a manager, who worked on the driver development team. I was really\u00a0interested in that\u00a0kind of\u00a0work,\u201d he says. \u201cSo, I got to work on a project with him\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0basically said, \u2018hey, we have this opening on our team if you\u2019re interested.\u2019 So, I interviewed and ended up\u00a0interning again\u00a0for a few months before I went back to school.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When Maxim finished his second\u00a0internship,\u00a0Intel\u00a0offered him a full-time job once he graduated.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0not always easy to get your foot in the door, so look for an education that gives you unique opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building your career path during high school and college<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Even if you plan to study computer science in college, you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need to wait to get involved.\u00a0\u00a0Maxim started his programming journey\u00a0in high school\u00a0as a\u00a0hobby.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI used to make Pok\u00e9mon\u00a0modpacks,\u201d he says.\u00a0\u201cEventually, I felt limited by the tools I had and so I figured, \u2018Well, if I\u2019m limited by the tools that I have, then I should make my own tools.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That\u2019s\u00a0when he started to build video game emulators.\u00a0And that work taught Maxim the basics of programming that gave him a headstart when he arrived at\u00a0Pacific. Personal projects like that are\u00a0a great way\u00a0to learn coding, find your\u00a0interests\u00a0and build your ability to self-teach.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cBeing able to teach yourself and look stuff up is so important,\u201d Maxim says. \u201cLearn where to find documentation and how to read it. The field is constantly changing,\u00a0there\u2019s always\u00a0new technologies\u00a0coming out, so knowing how to learn is\u00a0probably the\u00a0most important thing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Berhe has similar advice to Maxim, though he points out that personal projects can also be a way to network.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIf you can contribute to an existing\u00a0open source\u00a0project, for example, you become part of a community,\u201d he says. \u201cThat experience is valuable. When you graduate, you can point to those contributions and show that\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0worked as part of a team.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>There are other ways to get involved. You can join (or start) the coding club at your school or join\u00a0hackathons. In other words, look for ways to build your skills and make connections with\u00a0other people in\u00a0industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Artificial intelligence and the future of software development<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Artificial intelligence is reshaping many industries,\u00a0software development certainly among them.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0increasingly common for developers to use AI tools in their day-to-day work. You might wonder, since AI can code, is there still room for you?\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One\u00a0thing I want new students to know is that they don\u2019t need to be intimidated by\u00a0AI,\u201d Berhe says. \u201cAI is a tool that can help make software\u00a0developments\u00a0easier. But software engineering is much more than writing code, so I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0see AI replacing the field.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Maxim has an\u00a0additional\u00a0piece of advice for you as a coder.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cTry not to let AI write any of your code. I think\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0extremely important to understand everything\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0being written. Otherwise, when something breaks, you\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be able to debug it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our world runs on software.\u00a0The applications you use every day on your phone or computer are software.\u00a0And your devices rely on operating systems, also software, to make all its components work together.\u00a0Nearly every\u00a0industry in the world relies on technology\u00a0that runs or is programmed by software.\u00a0 Not only does software development span across many industries,\u00a0it\u00a0has plenty&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/blog\/2026\/07\/30\/software-developer\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How to become a software developer<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[37,445],"class_list":["post-6457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-school","tag-computer-science","tag-school-of-engineering-and-computer-science"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - 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