Computer Programmers
SOC Code: 15-1251 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Computer Programmers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $63,419 | $108,638 | $153,878 | $199,098 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,275 | $107,432 | $152,568 | $197,725 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $62,234 | $107,245 | $152,235 | $197,246 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $108,555 | $137,821 | $167,086 | $196,352 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $107,702 | $137,134 | $166,587 | $196,019 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $107,723 | $137,072 | $166,442 | $195,790 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $105,706 | $135,387 | $165,090 | $194,771 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $61,339 | $103,334 | $145,350 | $187,346 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $102,877 | $130,853 | $158,850 | $186,826 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $60,341 | $100,589 | $140,816 | $181,064 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 3,730 | $88,155 |
| Mphasis Corporation | 3,068 | $115,454 |
| HCL AMERICA INC | 2,056 | $98,729 |
| WIPRO LIMITED | 2,046 | $162,937 |
| Accenture LLP | 1,312 | $118,814 |
| CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | 996 | $108,998 |
| IBM Corporation | 853 | $93,822 |
| SKILLTUNE TECHNOLOGIES INC | 800 | $101,631 |
| Hexaware Technologies, Inc. | 554 | $93,066 |
| TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC | 491 | $90,886 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,260 | $101,510 |
| 2023 | 7,013 | $136,074 |
| 2024 | 12,476 | $133,010 |
| 2025 | 13,573 | $166,837 |
| 2026 | 1,955 | $415,741 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Programming | 4.8 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.5 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.4 | |
| Writing | 3.2 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.2 | |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Computers and Electronics | 4.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.5 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.5 |
| English Language | 3.4 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.3 |
| Administration and Management | 3.3 |
| Design | 2.9 |
| Education and Training | 2.8 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 88.0% |
| Associate's degree | 9.0% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 2.5% |
Typical Tasks
- Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
- Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.
- Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program.
- Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
- Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
- Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
- Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
- Write or contribute to instructions or manuals to guide end users.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
AJAX Adobe Acrobat Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Amazon DynamoDB Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 Amazon Redshift Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation Amazon Web Services AWS software Ansible software Apache Cassandra Apache Hadoop Apache Hive Apache Kafka Apache Maven
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