Programming
IT Career Level 3
Following are some of the most popular IT job titles that companies are looking for, as well as their job description, salary and education/credential requirements. There are many more IT job titles than what you see below; we have only listed a few of the most popular in each sector.
Game Programmer, Database Developer, Operating Systems Programmer, Programmer
Job Description:
You should have five+ years of programming experience with multiple languages. Programmers write, test, and maintain
the detailed instructions - called programs - that computers follow to perform their functions. Programmers also
conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. With the help of other computer
specialists, they figure out which instructions to use to make computers do specific tasks. Many technical
innovations in programming—advanced computing technologies and sophisticated new languages and programming
tools, for example - have redefined the role of a programmer and elevated much of the programming work done today.
Different programming languages are used depending on the purpose of the program. Programmers generally know more than one programming language, and because many languages are similar, they often can learn new languages relatively easily. In practice, programmers often are referred to by the language they know, such as Java Programmers, or by the type of function they perform or environment in which they work - for example; Database Programmers, Mainframe Programmers, or Web Programmers.
Programmers also update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs. Some, especially those working on large projects that involve many programmers use computer-assisted software engineering (CASE) tools to automate much of the coding process. These tools enable a programmer to concentrate on writing the unique parts of a program. Programmers working on smaller projects often use “programmer environments”, applications that increase productivity by combining compiling, code walk-through, code generation, test data generation, and debugging functions. Programmers also use libraries of basic code that can be modified or customized for a specific application. This approach yields more reliable and consistent programs and increases programmers’ productivity by eliminating some routine steps.
Programs vary widely depending on the type of information they will access or generate. For example, the instructions involved in updating financial records are very different from those required to simulate flight for pilot training. Simple programs can be written in a few hours, but some programs draw data from many existing systems or use complex mathematical formulas. These programs may take more than a year to create. In most cases, several programmers work together as a team under a Senior Programmer’s supervision.
Education/Credential Requirements:
(Note: The requirements listed below were assembled based on the most popular IT job titles and
company expectations. We have listed the most likely requirements. You may not need them all, but you will
certainly be required to have some of them. If you need help with this, please speak to one of our Training
Advisors at 877-872-4646 and they can guide you to the correct path.)
(Required): [High School Diploma or Equivalent];
[Software Programming Fundamentals];
[Microsoft VBScript];
[Certified ColdFusion MX Developer];
[IBM Certified Associate Developer];
[Microsoft ASP];
[Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications];
[Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications ];
[Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications];
[Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)];
[Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform];
[C++ Programming];
[COBOL];
[IBM INFORMIX-Online Dynamic Server];
[Soft Skills in Communications]
(Recommended): Working towards
[multiple programming languages]
Also review the following page on Understanding Certifications
Also review the following page on Understanding Soft Skills
Salary information:
National Average Salary: $59,536.00
For more detailed Salary information see our Salary Statistics page.
Microsoft Visual Basic Programmer:, Java Programmer, Microsoft .NET Developer,
Microsoft Web-based Visual Basic Programmer, Microsoft Web-based C# Programmer,
Microsoft C# Programmer, C++ Programmer
Job Description:
Microsoft Visual Basic Programmer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft
Visual Basic as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working
programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft .NET Developer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft .NET as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft .NET as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft Web-based Visual Basic Programmer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft Visual Basic as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft Web-based C# Programmer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft C# as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft C# Programmer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft C# as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD): Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft .NET as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD): Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Microsoft .NET as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Java Programmer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with Java as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
C++ Programmer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with C++ as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Microsoft ASP Programmer: Your IT job description is the same as the programmer above, with ASP as the primary programming language. Most programmers learn multiple languages to help implement full working programs and would not be limited by knowing only one language.
Education/Credential Requirements:
(Note: The requirements listed below were assembled based on the most popular IT job titles and
company expectations. We have listed the most likely requirements. You may not need them all, but you will
certainly be required to have some of them. If you need help with this, please speak to one of our Training
Advisors at 877-872-4646 and they can guide you to the correct path.)
(Required): [High School Diploma or Equivalent];
[Software Programming Fundamentals];
[Microsoft VBScript];
[Certified ColdFusion MX Developer];
[IBM Certified Associate Developer];
[COBOL];
[IBM INFORMIX-Online Dynamic Server];
[Soft Skills in Communications]
Microsoft Visual Basic Programmer:
[Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications]
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Windows Developer:
[Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Windows Developer]
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Web Developer:
[Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Web Developer]
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Enterprise Applications Developer:
[Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Enterprise Applications Developer]
Microsoft Web-based Visual Basic Programmer:
[Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications]
Microsoft Web-based C# Programmer:
[Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications]
Microsoft C# Programmer:
[Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications]
Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD):
[Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)]
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD):
[Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)]
Java Programmer:
[Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform]
C++ Programmer:
[C++ Programming]
Microsoft ASP Programmer:
[Microsoft ASP]
(Recommended): Working towards
[multiple programming languages]
Also review the following page on Understanding Soft Skills
Salary information:
National Average Salary: $59,536.00
For more detailed Salary information see our Salary Statistics page.