Programmers will be creating and maintaining expert systems and embedding these technologies in more and more products. The number and quality of applicants for programmer jobs have increased, so employers have become more selective. Competition for entry-level positions even affects applicants with a bachelor's degree. Many observers expect opportunities for people without college degrees to diminish in coming years as programming tasks become more complex and more sophisticated skills and experience are demanded by employers. In order to remain competitive, college graduates should keep up to date with the latest skills and technologies.
Many employers prefer to hire applicants with previous experience in the field.
Therefore, people who want to become programmers can enhance their chances by combining work experience with the appropriate formal training. Students should try to gain experience by participating in a college work-study program, or undertaking an internship. Students also can greatly improve their employment prospects by taking courses such as accounting, management, engineering, or science-allied fields in which applications programmers are in demand. Programmers working in the West and Northeast earned somewhat more than those working in the South and Midwest. On average, systems programmers earn more than applications programmers.