Qualifications improve your chances; they do not gate the job. Level 6 is the most recognised.
Typical pay: £30,000 to £75,000Level 6 most recognisedOpen entry
Pay range: National Careers Service.
Live listings typically advertise £45,000 to £65,000 a year. See the full Software Developer salary guide.
Your route in
Employers typically expect around L3
1
Qualifications employers recognise (Level 6)
Any of these strengthens your application.
- A Level Computer Science L320 courses
- Level 3 Certificate in Coding Practices L314 courses
- BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Information Technology L310 courses
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT L39 courses
- HNC in Computing (Level 4) L47 courses
- Level 3 Certificate in Software Development L36 courses
2
Add-on certificates
Complements to the main route. Where no level is shown, the awarding body does not specify one.
3
Where this can take you
With experience, you could: become a senior developer, leading a team, manage development projects, move into related areas, such as systems design, IT architecture and business systems analysis and set up your own company and work as a consultant.
Courses for this career
See free Software Developer courses
Level 3
- A Level Computer Science L320 courses
- Level 3 Certificate in Coding Practices L314 courses
- BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Information Technology L310 courses
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT L39 courses
- Level 3 Certificate in Software Development L36 courses