National Occupational Classification (NOC): 21232
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
- Application programmer
- Artificial intelligence programmer
- Cloud developer
- Computer game developer
- Electronic business (e-business) software developer
- Graphical user interface (GUI) designer
- Mobile applications developer
- Software developer
- Software development project manager
What do software developers and programmers do?
Software developers and programmers design, write, and test code for new systems and software to ensure efficiency. They create the foundations for operative systems and run diagnostic programs to certify effectiveness. They are employed in computer software, computer and video game development firms, information technology consulting firms, and in information technology units throughout the private and public sectors.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Design, write, read, test, and correct code for new software
- Analyze information to recommend and plan the installation of new systems or modifications of an existing system
- Evaluate simple interrelationships between programs such as whether a contemplated change in one part of a program would cause unwanted results in a related part
- Program animation software to predefined specifications for interactive video games, Internet and mobile applications
- Write, modify, integrate and test software code for e-commerce, Internet and mobile applications
- Develop, implement, modify and maintain gameplay features that integrate effectively into existing software
- Write documentation for new and updated software.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Software developers and programmers work in many subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador, including:
- 541 Professional, scientific and technical services
- 911 Federal government public administration
- 221 Utilities
- 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing
- 524 Insurance carriers and related activities
- 517 Telecommunications
- 912 Provincial and territorial public administration
Source: 2021 Census, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook will be good for software developers and programmers in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 4 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Software 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 70 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 81% | Western: 3% |
| Eastern: 3% | Labrador: 1% |
| Central: 9% | NL-unspecified: 3% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as software developers and programmers in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 615 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 86% of those employed were Male+ and 14% 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+ |
| 23% | 71% | 7% | 0% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do software developers and programmers make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all software developers and programmers in the reference year 2020 (635 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $75,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for software developers and programmers in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.00 | $38.00 | $67.31 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $25.00 | $44.62 | $63.19 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings: (2023)
- Computer Science
- Software Development
- Python (Programming Language)
- Application Programming Interface (API)
- Business Process
- JavaScript (Programming Language)
- C# (Programming Language)
- SQL (Programming Language)
- Software Engineering
- React.js (Javascript Library)
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering or in another discipline with a significant programming component or completion of a college program in computer science or related field is usually required.
- Progression to software engineer 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.