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Software creators

How to become a Software Developer

Official title: Software Developer (Packaged Software)

Also called: Software development engineer (packaged software)

Plans and develops packaged software that is installed on computers.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but many people are graduates of senmon gakko (vocational colleges), kosen (colleges of technology), universities and similar. Some join as new graduates, but many people in their 20s to early 30s are also hired mid-career from other industries. After joining, you build experience through real development work, and it is said to take 4 to 5 years to be recognised as a fully skilled software developer. With experience, some move into management, become freelancers or set up their own business. You need to be able to use development environments and languages well, and to learn related knowledge and skills such as the internet and storage systems. Software development is often done in teams, so communication skills are important for putting your ideas across clearly, cooperating within the team and moving development forward. If you are involved in planning new products, you also need marketing knowledge to understand market trends and user needs accurately and turn them into products. Some people develop software on their own as shareware and sell it online.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Software Developer?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but many people are graduates of senmon gakko (vocational colleges), kosen (colleges of technology), universities and similar. Some join as new graduates, but many people in their 20s to early 30s are also hired mid-career from other industries. After joining, you build experience through real development work, and it is said to take 4 to 5 years to be recognised as a fully skilled software developer. With experience, some move into management, become freelancers or set up their own business. You need to be able to use development environments and languages well, and to learn related knowledge and skills such as the internet and storage systems. Software development is often done in teams, so communication skills are important for putting your ideas across clearly, cooperating within the team and moving development forward. If you are involved in planning new products, you also need marketing knowledge to understand market trends and user needs accurately and turn them into products. Some people develop software on their own as shareware and sell it online.

How much does a Software Developer earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,784,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Software creators, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Software Developer?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 67% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Software Developer?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026