Software Job Market Overview
The software development industry is rapidly evolving, with new trends, technologies, and specialized skills shaping the market. Several factors drive demand for software engineers, testers, and developers across various industries.
The future of software development looks promising. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow by 17% from 2023 to 2033, significantly outpacing the average for all occupations.
In 2025, it is estimated that U.S. spending on software engineering could reach $200 billion, with total global spending projected to grow by 14% year over year.
One major reason for the optimistic forecast for software workers is the heightened demand for expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics. These fields drive the need for software engineers proficient in programming languages like Python, C++, and Java, as well as data analysis and cloud computing skills.
This is mitigated somewhat by the increase in tech unemployment across the economy. However, current tech unemployment rates still fall well below the national average. Also, in places like California, Texas and Washington, software workers have seen a substantial increase in job opportunities.
Tech Trends in Software
Artificial Intelligence in Software
In the software industry, along with the rest of tech, artificial intelligence will have a major impact on spending and hiring in 2025 and beyond. AI is becoming vital to software development as the technology allows tasks like code generation, testing, and debugging to become partially, if not fully, automated. These AI tools will help improve productivity throughout the industry.
Artificial intelligence is not the only tech software workers should look at in 2025. Other top software trends include:
Emergence of Software Engineering Intelligence (SEI)
The rise of Software Engineering Intelligence marks a shift from traditional Value Stream Management. SEI measures the end-to-end software development process, aiming to improve developer experiences and accelerate AI-powered development capabilities.
Adoption of Low-Code and No-Code Platforms
Low-code and no-code platforms democratize software development, enabling individuals without extensive technical expertise to create applications. According to Sprigstack, nearly 70% of app development projects will involve these platforms by 2025.
Expansion of Cloud Engineering
The demand for cloud engineering continues to rise, with significant growth in cloud infrastructure services. Proficiency in Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS) is increasingly valuable.
Industries Hiring Software Workers
As some of the most sought-after skill sets in tech, software workers will have interest from a wide variety of companies. "In the US, software engineers are being hired at a higher rate than any other tech role," says Courtney Miner, Software Program Manager at Motion Recruitment. "With companies across several industries looking to hire workers, job seekers should look beyond traditional tech companies to find jobs that challenge and excite them."
Here are just some of the few places where demand for software workers is growing:
Healthcare. One of the best industries for software engineers, healthcare support jobs are expected to expand at the most significant rate, 15.4%, out of all occupational categories, between 2022 and 2032. With an increased focus on telemedicine, wearable health tech, and personalized medicine, software engineers are critical in improving patient outcomes.
Cybersecurity. As cyber threats grow, organizations demand robust security measures. Engineers skilled in cybersecurity are essential to safeguarding systems and data. Areas like Zero-trust security, cryptography, threat detection using AI, and secure software development are seeing positive growth in spending and headcount.
Climate Tech & Sustainable Energy. Climate change mitigation is a global priority, creating demand for software solutions in renewable energy, carbon tracking, and smart grids. Companies looking to hire software workers are in spaces like IoT for energy efficiency, predictive maintenance for renewable energy systems, and software for carbon emission tracking.
Gaming & Immersive Technologies. Gaming continues to thrive as a lucrative industry, with advancements in AR/VR offering new frontiers for development. Hot Areas: Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), AI-driven NPCs, and game engines.
E-commerce & Logistics Tech. Online retail and logistics demand innovative solutions for supply chain optimization and personalized shopping experiences.
Highest Paying Jobs in Software 2025
These salaries are averages compiled as part of Motion Recruitment's 2025 Tech Salary Guide. The data below represents real market starting salary ranges derived from thousands of jobs across major cities in North America. These ranges only reflect base compensation and do not include bonuses, equity, benefits, etc. Role ranges can be impacted by company size, industry and organizational structures.
Highest Paying Senior Level Software Roles (5+ years experience)
1. .Net Architect: $153,333 - $210,000
2. Software Architect: $163,333 - $201,205
3. Golang Developer: $150,113 - $195,909
Highest Paying Mid-Level Software Roles (3-5 years experience)
1. Golang Developer: $144,444 - $186,666
2. Robotics Engineer: $118,571 - $174,285
3. BackEnd Developer: $120,928 - $163,035
Download Motion Recruitment's 2025 Tech Salary Guide
