Occupational Standards
Occupational standards help ensure that software engineering roles are understood, classified, and represented accurately across workforce systems, policy, and regulation. This page provides practical guidance on occupational classification for software engineers, starting with Standard Occupational Classification codes.
SOC Codes for Software Engineers
“Software engineer” is a widely used professional title, but SOC codes are assigned based on primary job duties. As a result, more than one SOC code may be applicable depending on the role.
Most common classification
The most common SOC code used for software engineering roles is 15-1252 Software Developers when the primary responsibility is designing, building, testing, and maintaining software systems or applications.
Why multiple codes exist
Occupational classification is based on what the role primarily does, not the job title. Software engineering roles may emphasize development, quality engineering, programming, or systems analysis, which can lead to different SOC selections.
Common SOC Codes Used for Software Engineering Roles
Select the SOC code that best matches the role’s primary duties and outcomes. When responsibilities span multiple areas, classify based on where the majority of time and accountability reside.
| SOC Code | Occupation | Primary focus |
|---|---|---|
| 15-1252 | Software Developers | Designing, building, testing, and maintaining software systems and applications. |
| 15-1253 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Quality engineering, test strategy, validation, and verification of software systems. |
| 15-1251 | Computer Programmers | Implementing and modifying code from detailed specifications with limited design ownership. |
| 15-1211 | Computer Systems Analysts | Analyzing requirements and translating organizational needs into system specifications. |
Note: In the 2018 SOC system, earlier software developer categories were consolidated. This is why 15-1252 is commonly used for software engineering roles focused on development.
How to Choose the Appropriate SOC Code
- Identify the duties that occupy most of the role’s time.
- Determine where primary responsibility and accountability sit.
- Select the SOC code that best aligns with those core duties.
- Document the rationale used for classification.
Support Professional Occupational Standards
NSOSE is a nonprofit professional society that develops practical occupational standards and public guidance to help employers, engineers, and institutions classify and understand software engineering roles correctly. Organizations that serve software engineers through tools, hiring, education, compliance, or workforce services can support this work through institutional sponsorship.
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