The following article discusses the career of Software Consultant highlighting what they do, the work environment, how to become, training and certification, education, job and salary outlook.
What We Do
Software consultants help to create systems required to perform very specific tasks in the company they work for. You will also provide troubleshooting, training and support services for any system you design. Finally, you will look at a company’s existing IT infrastructures to find out ways where they can become more efficient.
Work Environment
As a software consultant, you will usually work in different industries depending on the client. This can range from internet advertising and website construction. You could also focus specifically on certain areas of software, including social media. Working hours may be erratic at times and travel is very common.
How to Become
You have to be very well-versed in various software systems, including software languages. Specifically, SQL, HTML and Java are necessary skills. You must also be an excellent multi-tasker, be able to work on your own and be able to make sound business judgments.
Training & Certification Requirements
Generally speaking, you will have to hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science or IT. You must also have between three and five years of working experience in the field of computer science and/or consulting.
Education Requirements
Bachelor’s
Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all computer systems analysts can expect a growth in demand of 21% between 2014 and 2024, which is much faster than the national average.
National Salary
The national average salary estimate for Software Consultant was $85,783. This number is estimated from over 1,551 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $44.68 and monthly of $7,149.
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$24,000
$184,000
Salary Distribution
Salary by State
The following section lists Software Consultant salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Oklahoma had the largest quoted salary of $109,478 while Hawaii had the smallest quoted salary of $57,000.
| Alaska – $68,000 | Rank: 49th |
| The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Alabama – $100,069 (▲18% Above national average) | Rank: 13th |
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Intergraph Corporation.
$50,000 $152,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Arkansas – $94,000 | Rank: 12th |
| The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Arizona – $71,059 (▼16% Below national average) | Rank: 44th |
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Allstaff Services Inc- Phoenix.
$25,000 $139,000 Salary Distribution | |
| California – $91,534 (▲8% Above national average) | Rank: 8th |
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Client of Roland & Associates, Craftlogic Software LLC, Direct Sales Recruiting, LLC, and Alltech Consulting Services Inc.
$35,000 $174,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Colorado – $91,571 (▲8% Above national average) | Rank: 33rd |
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Craftlogic Software LLC.
$24,000 $201,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Connecticut – $95,903 (▲13% Above national average) | Rank: 4th |
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like A. B. Computer Systems, Inc..
$28,000 $203,000 Salary Distribution | |
| DC – $103,948 (▲22% Above national average) | Rank: 1st |
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Alltech Consulting Services Inc.
$23,000 $244,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Delaware – $81,000 | Rank: 38th |
| The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Florida – $77,397 (▼9% Below national average) | Rank: 28th |
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Cynosure, Inc., AppleOne, and Robert Half Technology.
$24,000 $161,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Georgia – $73,745 (▼13% Below national average) | Rank: 5th |
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ITEN Consulting, Inc., AirWatch, LLC, Manhattan Associates, and Keystone Logic Inc..
$15,000 $177,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Hawaii – $57,000 | Rank: 52nd |
| The average salary ranks 52nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Iowa – $72,265 (▼15% Below national average) | Rank: 20th |
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology and A.M.S srl.
$28,000 $135,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Idaho – $60,000 | Rank: 51st |
| The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Illinois – $80,636 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 6th |
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and Diamondigital.
$31,000 $153,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Indiana – $88,000 | Rank: 24th |
| The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Kansas – $66,916 (▼21% Below national average) | Rank: 31st |
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TEKsystems.
$28,000 $122,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Kentucky – $80,000 | Rank: 41st |
| The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Louisiana – $63,927 (▼25% Below national average) | Rank: 34th |
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ElectSolve.
$32,000 $106,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Massachusetts – $91,170 (▲7% Above national average) | Rank: 2nd |
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like IBM.
$30,000 $185,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Maryland – $85,092 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 10th |
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Alltech Consulting Services Inc..
$23,000 $184,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Maine – $82,000 | Rank: 35th |
| The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Michigan – $74,820 (▼12% Below national average) | Rank: 14th |
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like DaySmart Software, Inc..
$24,000 $153,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Minnesota – $81,000 | Rank: 39th |
| The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Missouri – $105,523 (▲6% Above national average) | Rank: 17th |
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Skilled Talent Inc..
$27.45 $82.45 Salary Distribution | |
| Mississippi – $96,000 | Rank: 9th |
| The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Montana – $77,000 | Rank: 43rd |
| The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| North Carolina – $80,065 (▼6% Below national average) | Rank: 25th |
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Alltech Consulting Services Inc., Alltech Consulting Services Inc, TEKsystems, and E-Emphasys Technologies Inc.
$32,000 $148,000 Salary Distribution | |
| North Dakota – $82,000 | Rank: 36th |
| The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Nebraska – $67,000 | Rank: 50th |
| The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| New Hampshire – $91,000 | Rank: 18th |
| The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| New Jersey – $86,820 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 7th |
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Alltech Consulting Services Inc, Alltech Consulting Services Inc., KMC Consulting Solutions, and FACILE SOFT SOLUTIONS, INC.
$33,000 $166,000 Salary Distribution | |
| New Mexico – $80,000 | Rank: 42nd |
| The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Nevada – $70,000 | Rank: 47th |
| The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| New York – $100,891 (▲19% Above national average) | Rank: 3rd |
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Alltech Consulting Services Inc., DoddiTech, Alltech Consulting Services, Inc, and Skystream Technology.
$24,000 $229,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Ohio – $90,390 (▲6% Above national average) | Rank: 26th |
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Real Soft Inc. (RSI)..
$20,000 $211,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Oklahoma – $109,478 (▲10% Above national average) | Rank: 30th |
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology.
$28.75 $86.25 Salary Distribution | |
| Oregon – $89,000 | Rank: 21st |
| The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Pennsylvania – $89,000 | Rank: 22nd |
| The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Rhode Island – $84,000 | Rank: 32nd |
| The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| South Carolina – $91,000 | Rank: 19th |
| The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| South Dakota – $70,000 | Rank: 48th |
| The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Tennessee – $86,000 | Rank: 29th |
| The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Texas – $89,739 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 23rd |
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Nigel Frank International, Delta System & Software Inc., Robert Half Technology, and Harte Hanks.
$26,000 $192,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Utah – $72,000 | Rank: 46th |
| The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Virginia – $91,748 (▲8% Above national average) | Rank: 15th |
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.
$30,000 $186,000 Salary Distribution | |
| Vermont – $81,000 | Rank: 40th |
| The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Washington – $95,000 | Rank: 11th |
| The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Wisconsin – $82,000 | Rank: 37th |
| The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| West Virginia – $87,000 | Rank: 27th |
| The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
| Wyoming – $76,000 | Rank: 45th |
| The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Top 20 National Employers
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Software Consultant. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Alltech Consulting Services Inc. | New York | $99,951 |
| Intergraph Corporation | Alabama | $98,650 |
| Craftlogic Software LLC | Colorado | $97,086 |
| Client of Roland & Associates | California | $96,807 |
| Nigel Frank International | Texas | $94,869 |
| Craftlogic Software LLC | California | $92,197 |
| Alltech Consulting Services Inc | New Jersey | $88,787 |
| Alltech Consulting Services Inc. | North Carolina | $88,474 |
| Alltech Consulting Services Inc. | New Jersey | $84,575 |
| Cynosure, Inc. | Florida | $81,649 |
| ITEN Consulting, Inc. | Georgia | $80,000 |
| Alltech Consulting Services Inc | North Carolina | $79,010 |
| Robert Half Technology | Iowa | $77,611 |
| Direct Sales Recruiting, LLC | California | $75,000 |
| AppleOne | $7,500 | |
| AppleOne | Florida | $7,500 |
| DaySmart Software, Inc. | Michigan | $71,151 |
| KMC Consulting Solutions | New Jersey | $70,000 |
| DoddiTech | $7,000 | |
| DoddiTech | New York | $7,000 |
References
- The Key to Becoming a Software Consultant | DaedTech
- So you want to be an IT Consultant? | ThoughtWorks
- Software engineer – Wikipedia
- Information technology consulting – Wikipedia
- Software Consulting Agreement – SEC.gov
*Indicates number of job postings as of June, 2017.
