Programmers vs Developers vs Software Engineers

Matt and Robert walk through four roles that get mixed together on job boards and resumes: programmer, software developer, software engineer, and computer scientist. They look at what each job actually covers, where “engineer” is a regulated title and where it is just a pay-band label, how ACM/IEEE CC2020 draws the line between computer science and software engineering, and how much of the “requirements” work now sits with product managers.

They also pull Bureau of Labor Statistics outlooks for programmers, software developers, and computer and information research scientists, and talk about what BLS is saying about AI and IT employment through 2034. The practical question underneath the titles: what do you actually own on a team, and what should you put on a resume when the words keep sliding.

Links

• ACM Computing Curricula 2020: https://www.acm.org/media-center/2021/march/computing-curricula-2020
• BLS - Computer programmers: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm
• BLS - Software developers: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm
• BLS - Computer and information research scientists: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm
• BLS -Artificial intelligence, information technology, and employment, 2024–34: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/artificial-intelligence-information-technology-and-employment-2024-34.htm