National Occupational Classification (NOC): 21230
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Computer programmer
- Detail programmer
- Electronic data processing (EDP) applications programmer
- Mainframe systems programmer
- Operating systems programmer
- Programmer analyst
- Satellite scientific telecommunications programmer
- Scientific programmer
- Systems programmer
What do computer systems developers and programmers do?
Computer systems developers and programmers write, modify, integrate and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software and communications software. They are employed in computer software development firms, information technology consulting firms, and in information technology units throughout the public and private sectors.
Computer systems developers and programmers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Write, modify, integrate and test software code
- Maintain existing computer programs by making modifications as required
- Identify and communicate technical problems, processes and solutions
- Prepare reports, manuals and other documentation on the status, operation and maintenance of software
- Assist in the collection and documentation of user requirements
- Assist in the development of logical and physical specifications
- May lead and coordinate teams of computer programmers
- May research and evaluate a variety of software products
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Computer systems developers and programmers primarily work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 611 Educational services
- 541 Professional, scientific and technical services
- 912 Provincial and territorial public administration
- 517 Telecommunications
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook will be moderate for computer systems developers and programmers in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 3 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Computer systems developers and programmers belong to the broader occupational group 21230, 21232-21234 (Computer programmers and web developers). This group is forecast to be balanced (rating of 2.3 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning projected labour supply is expected to meet forecasted job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 11 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 82% | Western: 0% |
| Eastern: 9% | Labrador: 0% |
| Central: 9% | NL-unspecified: 0% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as computer systems developers and programmers in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 190 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 82% of those employed were Male+ and 21% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 0% | 79% | 18% | 0% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do computer systems developers and programmers make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all computer systems developers and programmers in the reference year 2020 (230 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $75,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for computer systems developers and programmers in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $23.00 | $38.46 | $45.67 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $24.62 | $41.54 | $62.98 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- SQL (Programming Language)
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Application Development
- Computer Science
- IT InfrastructureJava (Programming Language)
- IBM System I
- Business Intelligence
- Unix
- Oracle Essbase
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- A bachelor’s degree or college diploma program in computer science, computer engineering or in another discipline with a significant programming component.
- Specialization in programming for engineering and scientific applications requires specific post-secondary study or experience.
- Progression to information systems analyst is possible with experience.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.