Boston has the #9 highest concentration of software developers in the US

The Boston metro has the #9 highest concentration of software developers nationwide.

There are 55,690 software developers in the Boston metro, comprising 21.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Boston-area software developers earn a median $129,180 annually.

Tech has long been known as a lucrative field. There were about 1.4 million software developers nationwide in 2021, earning a median annual salary of $120,730. Though the industry is currently facing a wave of layoffs, BLS predicts job growth in the field to be much faster than average, with an estimated 25% growth between 2021 and 2031, compared to only 5% for the average job.

Numbers like these might make you want to hit the books and change careers—but what does a software developer actually do? It's a bit more than just writing the code that helps run the software you use every day—from your takeout app to your favorite social media site.

Software developers must predict consumers' needs and design solutions for them. They'll need to see every piece of the puzzle in the development process, including meeting with stakeholders to brainstorm ideas and testing final products. Software developers should have hard skills like coding languages and data structures under their belt, according to Indeed. But soft skills like communication and creativity are just as important.

Once you have the necessary skills and education to land a software development job, there are plenty of great places to do so. You might immediately think of Silicon Valley or San Francisco when you picture a tech hub, but the truth is there are many lesser-known cities that now boast plenty of opportunities for software developers. 

Boston is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the country, and therefore plenty of talent ready to take on tech jobs. It's no surprise then that major companies have taken note of the city and its surrounding metropolitan area, which includes parts of New Hampshire. Amazon recently opening a hub in the city, which is estimated to bring in more than 2,000 jobs.

Despite a high cost of living, the history and culture the city has to offer continue to attract workers to build a home there. The city has for many years been expanding beyond its well-known biotech roots to welcome major players in the travel, gaming, and e-commerce industries, according to TheNextWeb.

See how other metros compare in the national story, where Feats used 2021 BLS employment data to rank the 15 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of software developers.