Every occupation the official NCES/BLS crosswalk connects to software engineering programs, with BLS pay, the education each job usually needs, what the work involves, and where to go next.
Software Engineering · CIP 14.0903 · 5 careers · Check one exact major, e.g. 14.0903 Computer Software Engineering, in the major to career finder
The official NCES/BLS crosswalk maps software engineering programs to 5 occupations that such programs typically prepare people for, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Database Architect and Software Engineer. BLS median pay across them runs from $104,300 (QA Tester) to $171,270 (Architectural and Engineering Managers) in May 2025. The crosswalk describes preparation, not what graduates actually go on to do.
Data Program → related occupations: these are jobs software engineering programs typically prepare people for (NCES/BLS crosswalk). Not a guaranteed outcome, and not a record of what graduates do.
Data Filter by the education the job usually needs or its preparation level; sort by pay or by number employed.
| Occupation | Most common education | Job Zone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $135,980 | 1,687,890 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $171,270 | 220,260 | Bachelor's Degree | 5 |
| QA Tester | $104,300 | 186,740 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Database Architect | $139,500 | 67,140 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryPostsecondary teaching | $109,270 | 40,270 | n/a | 5 |
No occupations match these filters.
Data The education column shows a typical entry level only where O*NET data supports one answer. Check the typical education for Architectural and Engineering Managers, one of the software engineering jobs above.
Data BLS national median annual wage, May 2025. These are pay levels of the occupations, not earnings of graduates.
Data The largest related occupations by employment (postsecondary teaching shown in the explorer).
Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects.
Direct, review, or approve project design changes.
Reading Comprehension · Complex Problem Solving · Active Listening
Mapped from CIP 14.0903Develop and document database architectures.
Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
Complex Problem Solving · Judgment and Decision Making · Reading Comprehension
Mapped from CIP 14.0903Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
Programming · Critical Thinking · Judgment and Decision Making
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 14.0903Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
Reading Comprehension · Active Listening · Speaking
Mapped from CIP 14.0903Data Related occupations grouped by government career field, with their pay range.
Data Other programs whose crosswalk occupations overlap with these.
The NCES/BLS crosswalk relates instructional programs (CIP 2020) to occupations (SOC 2018) when programs in the CIP category typically prepare individuals directly for jobs in the occupation. This page uses the CIP program series below and shows every non-residual occupation mapped to them that has BLS wages and O*NET data; each occupation lists the CIP codes that map to it.
Searches this page answers include “what can i do with a software engineering degree”, “what jobs can you get with a software engineering degree”, “software engineering degree jobs” (Ahrefs, U.S.).
