Quick answer: The Waterbury metro employs about 730 software developers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through the institution’s accreditor.
Compare computer science programs enrolling now:
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Software work carries no state licence. ABET accredits computing programs through a dedicated commission, though it is far less universal here than in engineering and many strong programs are not accredited. Institutional accreditation is what to verify, and it is what governs credit transfer.
See the Connecticut licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the institution’s accreditor.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 9 schools within 50 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 9 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Software Developers in the Waterbury area earn a median $131,290 per year, below the national median of $135,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Waterbury metro | Connecticut | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $131,290 | $134,120 | $135,980 |
| 10th percentile | $79,540 | $85,930 | $82,460 |
| 25th percentile | $101,670 | $105,750 | $105,210 |
| 75th percentile | $162,530 | $166,440 | $171,980 |
| 90th percentile | $193,460 | $205,160 | $214,670 |
| Employment | 730 | 13,660 | 1,687,890 |
| Location quotient | 0.42 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metropolitan statistical area.
The Waterbury median of $131,290 is below the national median of $135,980, and below the Connecticut statewide median of $134,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.42 means software developers are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Software employment concentrates hard around technology hubs, and remote hiring has widened but not flattened that distribution, so local wage levels still vary sharply
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $132,520 | 6,010 |
| Bridgeport | $162,650 | 3,090 |
| New Haven | $133,040 | 1,190 |
| Norwich | $123,780 | 1,060 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
The median annual wage for software developers in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area is $131,290, below the national median of $135,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area employs about 730 software developers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Software work carries no state licence. ABET accredits computing programs through a dedicated commission, though it is far less universal here than in engineering and many strong programs are not accredited. Institutional accreditation is what to verify, and it is what governs credit transfer. Confirm current requirements with the institution's accreditor.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the institution's accreditor.
The Waterbury metro median is $131,290 against a statewide median of $134,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
