• The Software Engineers need to have high level of technical knowledge to develop code and they must be well qualified in order to start as a Software Engineer.
• The Software Engineer must complete bachelor’s degree from any recognized university or any college affiliate to the university.
• During the degree course, they need to deal with computers as main subject that includes programming languages in it.
• Many companies recruit the candidates who have completed four years degree with computer science as main subject.
• The candidates with master’s degree have higher preference than the individuals with 4 years or 3 years degree.
• The candidate must have mathematics, physics as main subjects during the high school level.
• They should take some computer language courses like JAVA, C++ etc.
• The candidate must have prior experience as many top IT firms recruit Software Engineers with experience of 1-2 years.

There are several factors that alter the salary of the Software Engineer that includes experience in the field, industry type, employer type, specialization and geographical location. The median salary of the Software Engineer is $94,520 per annum.

• Years of Experience

• The Software Engineer with experience of less than one year and the salary range is between $ 45,000 and $ 67,500.
• The candidate with experience between one to four years, the salary range of the Software Engineer is between $ 60,233 and $ 83,329 and the hourly wage limit is between $ 14.28 and $ 53.20.
• The Software Engineer with experience of five to nine years, the salary range of the Software Engineer is between $ 68,052 and $ 98,235 and the hourly wage range is between $ 29.52 and $ 75.00.
•  For the candidates with experience between ten to nineteen years, the salary range is between $ 71,101 and $ 132,742 and the hourly wage range is between $ 47.90 and $ 83.10.
• For the Software Engineers with experience of more than twenty years, the salary range is between $ 91,701 and $ 158,452 and the hourly wage range is between $68.51 and $ 94.50.

• Industry

• Software Engineer working in software development industry earns an annual salary range between $ 68,364 and $ 141,228.
• Software Engineer working in software applications developing industry earns an annual salary range between $72,100 and $135,796.
• Software Engineer working in financial services industry type earns an annual salary range between $ 66,400 and $ 133,774.
• The Software Engineer working in IT consulting earns an annual salary range between $ 74,697 and $ 141,317.
• Software Engineer working for a health care industry earn annual salary range between $ 81,394 and $ 124,359.
• Software Engineer working in computer hardware or software designing earns an annual salary range between $ 39,045 and $ 75,920.

• Skills and Speciality

• A Software Engineer when he knows about Java programming language amongst his other educational qualifications, the annual salary range is between $ 65,349 and $ 142,262.
• A Software Engineer when he knows about programming with C++ language along his other qualifications, the yearly salary range is between $ 75,483 and $ 108,504.
• A Software Engineer when he gets specialized in the Structure Query Language (SQL) amongst his other qualifications, the yearly salary range is between $ 75,581 and $ 133,451.
• A Software Engineer when he knows about ASP.Net programming language amongst his other qualifications the annual salary range is between $ 78,328 and $ 120,879.
• A Software Engineer when he knows about running the applications on different operating systems like Linux or UNIX amongst his other qualifications, the annual salary range is between $ 84,212 and $ 143,205.
• A Software Engineer when he knows about web designing languages like HTML and XML amongst his other qualifications the annual salary range is between $ 68,660 and $ 122,272.
• A Software Engineer when he gets specialized Project Management amongst his other qualifications the annual salary range is between $ 92,313 and $ 157,456.

• They need to have good knowledge about several business applications that are used in the market.
• They must have good idea about the programming languages like C, C++, JAVA, Linux, XSLT, STL, J2EE, J2ME and sun Solaris etc.
• They must be capable of writing code for any kind of application.
• They must have good instructing skills to explain the software development process to the newly appointed Software Engineers.
• They must possess good knowledge about the architecture related to database.
• The Software Engineer need to have strong interpreting skills to interprets the technical specification given by the client.
• They must be flexible to work on any shifts in order to complete the project within the deadline.
• They must be good team player or active team member.
• The Software Engineer needs to manage time effectively.
• They must be expertise in computer software and hardware.
• The Software Engineer needs to have excellent people skills to communicate with the software team and clients to gather the specification required for developing the application.
• They must possess good organizational and leadership skills.
• Possess knowledge about various operating systems like Linux, UNIX or windows version.
• It is mandatory for the Software Engineers to get expertise in any of the programming language.
• The Software Engineer needs to have good command over English and possess good written skills.

The Software Engineer has important role in completing the project and they are mostly employed by the IT industries. The software development is a long term process and it can take from few months to years to complete the project. The software analyst gather the requirements from the clients and the dictate the same to the software development team. After the software architect explaining the overview of the project, the Software Engineers start developing code. They do lot research on internet and gather lots of data to write the code. The development of software goes through different stages that include communication phase, designing phase, coding phase, testing phase, fixing bugs. All these phases are common and every Software Engineer needs to have brief idea about the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) process. There are several IT specialists to take care of the different phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) process and the role of the Software Engineers comes in the coding phase.

The Software Engineers learn several programming languages like C, C++, JAVA, .NET and C# etc to develop the applications. Based on the specifications given the client, the Software Engineers use any of the above programming languages and write the code. The write code from computer games to various business applications. Once the code is completed, they execute it in front of the software architects and he decides whether the written code satisfy the client’s requirements. Based on the company, they can be categorized in to the systems engineer or application developers. They need to have strong technical knowledge, be good at mathematics and interpret the complex problems. They collaborate with other staff like project managers, graphical designer, web developers, system analyst and marketing professionals.

There are several duties that are to be executed by the software engines in order to complete the project on time.

• They need to carry out research and gather enormous information while writing code.
• Prepare document related to the Software Requirement Specifications (SRS) that comprise the functional and non functional requirements of the project, technologies to be used in developing the software.
• They sometimes even test the software and make necessary modifications in the code to get the desired outcome.
• They develop implement several prototypes to check the requirements.
• They are responsible to develop and use the reference tools for code optimization.
• They need to detect bugs and put forward the technical problems in the project.
• They need to integrate the developed application with existing system and explain the difference between the existing and proposed system.
• They must contribute knowledge in the modeling phase by drawing class diagrams, object diagrams, sequence diagrams, collaboration diagrams, use case diagrams and component diagrams required for the project.
• They are responsible to evaluate the latest technologies in the market and implement them in the developing the application.
• They are responsible to implement software localization or globalization.
• They are responsible to identify the code metrics in the project.
• They need to update their technical knowledge by reading manuals and attending courses.
• They need to design reference tools and us them effectively while developing the code.
• They are responsible to test the developed code and fix the bugs to make the application error free.
• They evaluate the work of the programmers, technologists, other technicians and technical personnel.
• They train the newly recruited Software Engineers and explain the about various coding techniques.
• They maintain database to record the work done by the end of the day and submit to the project manager.
• The Software Engineers must create technical documents by using the predefined technical templates.
• They advise the clients and help them in installing maintenance of system software.

• There is no license required for the Software Engineers and it’s not mandatory to get license in any state through the world.
• But there are many certification programs that help the Software Engineers top upgrade their technical skills and learn several programming techniques.
• Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP): It is the most prevalent certification course chosen by the candidates immediately after doing their graduation. This program gives complete details about the Java programming language.
• Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP): This certification course is offered by the Microsoft organization and it teaches all the basic concepts relate to programming and it explains all the object oriented concepts like inheritance and encapsulation etc.
• Oracle certified professional (OCP) DBA: This certification course gives the complete information about the oracle database and the Software Engineers on completing this certification course can find chances in database field.
• Microsoft certified professional + Internet (MCP+I): Many individuals select this program to learn all the basic concepts of the internet like protocols, browsing internet and this course  is offered by the Microsoft.
• Microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE): Many companies recruit the candidate for the role of associate systems engineer or systems trainee engineer demand for the certification issued by the Microsoft organization or Cisco network association.
• Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA): The graduates on completing this certification course can have greater chance to become database administrator if the candidate is not willing to write program.
• All the certification programs are offered by the computer institutes and some training colleges. But it is essential for the individual to continue their education in software field and learn all the latest technologies introduced in to the market and use them in developing applications.