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This is a good field to get into, since it offers salaries well above the national average, and is projected to be one of the fastest-growing occupations over the next several years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A key step toward becoming a software engineer is to earn your bachelor's degree in software engineering or computer science. Along the way, you should strive to learn a variety of programming languages and protocols. Since practical experience is very important in this occupation, as is being able to demonstrate the nature of your work, internships or other introductory work experiences should be part of your education. For this reason, you may want to pursue your education in an area that has a thriving software business community.

As you begin your education, decide what specific area of software engineering interests you. Broadly speaking, there are software systems engineers and software application engineers, with considerable variety within each group. Knowing what type of software you plan to work with can help guide your coursework choices, as well as the internships you seek out. Also, your job prospects in some specialties might be enhanced if you go on to earn an advanced degree in the field.