Software Developer Career Assessment
Designing and building apps and programs
Welcome
Software developers design and build the apps, programs, and systems people use every day, from phone apps to farm equipment software to hospital records.
You will explore what this job is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Software Developer?
A software developer figures out what a program needs to do, then designs it, writes the code, tests it, and keeps improving it. They work closely with other developers, testers, and the people who will use the software.
The Reality: Most of the job is not typing code. It is thinking, reading, planning, fixing bugs, and working with a team. You will spend hours stuck on a problem, and that is normal.
Your Responsibilities:
- Talk with users to learn what the software needs to do
- Plan and design how the program will work
- Write code in languages like Python, Java, C#, or JavaScript
- Test code and fix bugs
- Review other developers' code
- Use AI coding tools and check their work
- Update and improve older programs
- Write notes so others can understand the code
You are a builder, a problem-solver, and a team player.
A Day in the Life
8:30 AM — Coffee. Read messages. Check if last night's code tests passed.
9:00 AM — Daily "stand-up" meeting: each person shares what they did and what they are stuck on.
9:30 AM — Work on a new feature: a screen that lets farmers see equipment data on their phone.
11:00 AM — Stuck on a bug. Ask a coworker. Together you find it in 20 minutes.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
1:00 PM — Use an AI tool to draft some code. Carefully check it and fix two mistakes it made.
2:30 PM — Review a teammate's code and suggest improvements.
3:30 PM — Meet with a user to show your progress and get feedback.
4:30 PM — Write notes and plan tomorrow.
Lots of focused thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Training in North Dakota
No state license is needed. Most employers want a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Some hire people with a 2-year degree and a strong portfolio (examples of your work).
Training Pathways:
- Associate degree (2 years): Learn programming basics. Can lead to junior jobs, especially with a portfolio.
- Bachelor's degree (4 years): The most common path. Some ND schools offer it online.
- Self-taught or bootcamp: Possible, but harder to get hired right now. You will need a strong portfolio.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton and Fargo) — Software Engineering AAS
- Williston State College (Williston) — Information Technology AAS, Programming/Coding option
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Secure Programming and Mobile Application Development certificates
- Valley City State University (Valley City and online) — B.S. in Software Engineering
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) — B.S. in Computer Science
- University of North Dakota (Grand Forks or online) — B.S. in Computer Science
- Minot State University (Minot) — B.S. in Computer Science
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Strong math and reading skills help a lot. Many 4-year programs expect algebra and pre-calculus.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, exam fees, or a laptop. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Many IT certifications are also sold as low-cost online courses you can do at home.
Certification & Licensing
No license. Your portfolio matters most. Employers want to see what you can build. A portfolio of projects on a site like GitHub often matters more than any certificate.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- A portfolio — real projects you built, with your code online
- AWS or Microsoft Azure developer certifications — helpful for cloud jobs
- Language certificates (Python, Java) — nice to have, not required
The Exams: There is no required exam. Job interviews often include coding tests, where you solve problems while someone watches.
Cost: Cloud certifications cost about $100–$150 per exam. Building a portfolio is free. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Keeping It Current: Cloud certifications last about 1–3 years. Mostly, you keep your skills current by building new things.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Software Developer Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $30.24–$37.92/hour ($62,900–$78,870/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $50.77/hour ($105,600/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $60.82–$75.99/hour ($126,510–$158,060/year)
What that means: Very high pay. Most people earning the median have a bachelor's degree and several years of experience.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 1,520 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 1,750 (about 16% growth). Expect about 100 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 16% growth — much faster than average.
Outlook: Strong long-term growth. But right now, entry-level jobs are competitive across the U.S., and AI tools are changing how junior developers work. People who can build real projects and use AI tools well stand out.
Who Hires in ND: Software companies, banks and insurance companies, health systems, state government, farm-equipment and manufacturing companies, energy companies, and Microsoft's campus in Fargo. Many remote jobs exist.
Work Setting: Offices or remote. Usually regular daytime hours, with some crunch times before big deadlines.
Physical Demands: Light. Long hours sitting and looking at screens. Taking breaks and good posture matter.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 15-1252); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Senior Developer — Lead harder projects and mentor newer developers.
Path 2: Software Architect — Design how large systems fit together.
Path 3: Mobile or Game Developer — Specialize in phone apps or games.
Path 4: Data or AI Engineer — Build systems that work with large data and AI.
Path 5: Engineering Manager — Lead a team of developers.
Path 6: Start Your Own Business — Build apps or websites for clients.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Very high pay
- Creative work: you build things
- Many remote options
- Strong long-term job growth
- Work in almost any industry
- Great feeling when your code finally works
What's Hard:
- Hard to get the first job right now
- Usually need a 4-year degree
- Long stretches stuck on hard problems
- Must keep learning new languages and tools
- AI is changing entry-level work
- Long hours sitting at a screen
- Deadlines can be stressful
- Coding interviews can be tough
Be Honest: Do you enjoy solving puzzles for hours? Are you OK with feeling stuck and trying again? Can you commit to a degree or build a strong portfolio? Will you keep learning your whole career?