The software industry directly accounts for 2.9 million jobs in the U.S., a 14.6% increase since 2014, according to a report out today by Software.org, the research arm of the software industry's trade group BSA. The average annual salary for software developers is $104,360, which is more than twice the annual average wage for all U.S. occupations, according to the report.
Why this matters: The software industry is growing as new technologies like artificial technology, self-driving cars, augmented reality and the internet of things — all of which rely heavily on software — continue to advance. Software-related jobs continue to be among the more lucrative jobs requiring STEM skills, a shortage of which puts such workers in high demand.
Just yesterday the Trump administration announced an initiative to expand students' access to computer science and STEM education. Increased training in these areas, particularly in the K-12 setting, is one way experts think students can be better prepared for the modern economy that is increasingly leaving many communities behind.
