Before software companies release software applications to clients, they test them, eliminate glitches and establish the release cycle dates for integrating the software with clients' networks. Software release coordinators help project and release managers ensure the integration process runs smoothly and provide technical support to clients when necessary. If you can picture yourself sitting at a computer and assisting with the deployment of new software, the job of software release coordinator may be the perfect career. You can expect to earn an annual salary averaging slightly below $60,000 annually.
Salary and Qualifications
The average annual salary for software release coordinators was $57,000 as of 2013, according to the job site Indeed. To become a software release coordinator, you need at least an associate degree in computer science, computer engineering or information technology. Many companies may prefer that you have a bachelor's degree in one of these majors. You'll also need a working knowledge of various programming languages, including C, C++, Fortran, Java and HTML, the common programming used for the Internet. Other essential requirements are analytical, organizational, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making and customer service skills.
Salary by Region
In 2013, average salaries for software release coordinators varied significantly in some U.S. regions. In the Northeast, they earned the highest salaries of $68,000 in New York and the lowest of $49,000 in Maine. Those in the West made $38,000 to $62,000 per year in Hawaii and California, respectively. If you worked as a software release coordinator in the South, you'd earn $48,000 in Louisiana or $67,000 in Washington, D.C., the lowest and highest salaries in that region. In the Midwest, you'd make the most in Illinois and the least in Nebraska and South Dakota -- $64,000 and $43,000, respectively.
Contributing Factors
Software release coordinators earn more in New York and Washington, D.C., because housing and living costs are usually higher in that state and district. For example, if you earned $60,000 as a software release coordinator in Louisville, Ky., you'd need to make $143,162 in New York City to enjoy the same living standard. You'd have to earn $93,762 per year in Washington, D.C., to maintain the same living standard you have in Louisville. You may also earn more working for a large software company, because a larger company likely has a bigger budget to support a higher salary.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't forecast jobs for software release coordinators. It does project an 18-percent increase in jobs for computer and information systems managers through 2020, statistically about average compared to the 14-percent growth rate for all occupations. Computer and information systems managers often work for client companies that software companies service. Software release coordinators work with these managers to ensure a smooth transition from a client's older software to the newly released version. The demand for faster, upgraded computer systems and greater network security may increase job opportunities for you as a software release coordinator. You may also find more jobs in the health-care industry, which may require new software to support new medical-care and insurance legislation.
