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Software Engineer Resume Keywords

The skills 31,939 Software Engineer job postings ask for, next to what 14,486 candidates' resumes actually list. The difference is where most resumes lose the match.

Also called Software Developer Software Development Engineer (SDE) SWE

Updated September 2026 · From 31,939 job postings and 14,486 resumes

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Software Engineer

job postings analyzed
31,939
Each counted once
candidate resumes
14,486
One per candidate, the latest
most requested skill
Coding
In 61% of jobs
biggest gap
Testing
53% of jobs, 30% of resumes

What the numbers say

Testing is the widest gap. Just over half of Software Engineer jobs ask for it (53%), but only 30% of resumes mention it. Engineers test all the time; they just write "built" and "shipped" and leave the testing out. Say what you test and how: unit tests, integration tests, the coverage you raised.

The next gaps are skills resumes leave implied. Computer science is in 48% of jobs and on 30% of resumes, code review in 23% against 9%, and Agile in 30% against 17%. A resume that lists projects and languages but never uses the words the job posting uses matches less than it should. Computer science is mostly a degree requirement, and it matters most early: 61% of entry-level jobs name it, against 38% of senior ones.

The biggest shift is AI. Over the last 12 months, 33% of jobs mention it, up from 9% the year before. Code review (19% to 30%) and APIs (27% to 38%) rose too. Senior jobs lean further toward APIs (47%, against 25% at entry level) and AWS (39% against 20%). Java (49%) and Python (42%) are still the most requested languages.

All keywords

Software Engineer keywords, ranked by how many jobs ask for them

Each row shows two numbers: the share of Software Engineer job postings that ask for the skill, and the share of candidates' resumes that had it when scanned against those job postings.

Software Engineer: skills in job postings vs on resumes

The share of 31,939 Software Engineer job postings that ask for each skill, next to the share of 14,486 candidates' resumes that list it. The gap is the difference in percentage points.

Share of job postings asking for it Share of resumes that had it
Skill Asked for in jobsListed on resumes Gappts
1

Coding

Core

2.0× per job that asks
61%
48%
 +13 pts
2

Testing

Core

1.7× per job that asks
53%
30%
 +22 pts
3

Java

Core

1.4× per job that asks
49%
39%
 +10 pts
4

Computer Science

Core

1.3× per job that asks
48%
30%
 +18 pts
5

Programming

Core

1.3× per job that asks
46%
38%
 +7 pts
6

Python

Core

1.4× per job that asks
42%
35%
 +6 pts
7

Database

Common

1.3× per job that asks
35%
26%
 +9 pts
8

JavaScript

Common

1.3× per job that asks
32%
24%
 +8 pts
9

API

Common

1.5× per job that asks
30%
19%
 +11 pts
10

Agile

Common

1.2× per job that asks
30%
17%
 +13 pts
11

SQL

Common

1.2× per job that asks
26%
17%
 +9 pts
12

Programming Languages

Common

1.1× per job that asks
25%
14%
 +11 pts
13

AWS

Common

1.4× per job that asks
25%
12%
 +14 pts
14

React

Common

1.4× per job that asks
24%
14%
 +10 pts
15

C++

Common

1.3× per job that asks
23%
17%
 +6 pts
Show all 50 keywords
16

Code Review

Common

1.1× per job that asks
23%
9%
 +14 pts
17

Front End

Common

1.5× per job that asks
21%
12%
 +9 pts
18

Algorithms

Common

1.2× per job that asks
20%
16%
 +4 pts
19

Data Structures

Common

1.1× per job that asks
19%
16%
 +3 pts
20

Git

Common

1.1× per job that asks
19%
13%
 +5 pts
21

Artificial Intelligence

Common

3.0× per job that asks
17%
12%
 +5 pts
22

C#

Common

1.4× per job that asks
17%
6%
 +11 pts
23

Debugging

Common

1.2× per job that asks
17%
8%
 +8 pts
24

Microsoft Azure

Common

1.7× per job that asks
16%
5%
 +11 pts
25

Automation

Specialist

1.4× per job that asks
15%
7%
 +8 pts
26

Microservices

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
14%
6%
 +8 pts
27

REST API

Specialist

1.2× per job that asks
14%
8%
 +5 pts
28

Versioning

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
14%
6%
 +8 pts
29

Docker

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
13%
6%
 +8 pts
30

TypeScript

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
13%
5%
 +8 pts
31

Software Development Life Cycle

Specialist

1.4× per job that asks
13%
6%
 +7 pts
32

Full Stack

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
13%
8%
 +5 pts
33

Software Solution

Specialist

1.2× per job that asks
13%
6%
 +7 pts
34

Kubernetes

Specialist

1.2× per job that asks
13%
4%
 +9 pts
35

HTML

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
12%
9%
 +3 pts
36

Version Control

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
12%
5%
 +7 pts
37

Distributed Systems

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
12%
6%
 +6 pts
38

DevOps

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
12%
5%
 +7 pts
39

Product Management

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
12%
3%
 +9 pts
40

Angular

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
11%
4%
 +7 pts
41

Spring

Specialist

1.4× per job that asks
11%
6%
 +5 pts
42

Web Applications

Specialist

1.2× per job that asks
11%
5%
 +5 pts
43

Node.js

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
10%
6%
 +4 pts
44

PostgreSQL

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
10%
4%
 +6 pts
45

Cloud Platform

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
10%
3%
 +7 pts
46

NoSQL

Specialist

1.1× per job that asks
10%
3%
 +7 pts
47

Linux

Specialist

1.2× per job that asks
10%
5%
 +5 pts
48

Finance

Specialist

1.6× per job that asks
9%
3%
 +6 pts
49

Optimization

Specialist

1.2× per job that asks
9%
5%
 +4 pts
50

UI

Specialist

1.3× per job that asks
9%
5%
 +4 pts

Source: skillsyncer.com/resume-keywords/software-engineer · CC BY 4.0

Which of these keywords does your resume already have?

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The gap

The keywords resumes miss most

Asked for far more often than candidates list them. If you have these skills, these are the words most likely to be costing you the match.

Testing

+22 pts
53%
30%

53% of jobs ask for it, but only 30% of resumes list it.

Computer Science

+18 pts
48%
30%

48% of jobs ask for it, but only 30% of resumes list it.

Code Review

+14 pts
23%
9%

23% of jobs ask for it, but only 9% of resumes list it.

AWS

+14 pts
25%
12%

25% of jobs ask for it, but only 12% of resumes list it.

Coding

+13 pts
61%
48%

61% of jobs ask for it, but only 48% of resumes list it.

Agile

+13 pts
30%
17%

30% of jobs ask for it, but only 17% of resumes list it.

Find out if your resume is missing these for the job you want.

Check my resume

Trends

Which skills are rising

Share of job postings asking for each skill in the last 12 months against the 12 before. Artificial Intelligence and Coding are climbing.

Software Engineer: skills rising

The share of Software Engineer job postings asking for each skill in the previous 12 months (hollow dot) and the last 12 months (solid dot). Only skills that moved at least 3 points are shown.

Previous 12 months Last 12 months
0%35%70%
  1. Artificial Intelligence +24 pts
  2. Coding +11 pts
  3. API +11 pts
  4. Code Review +10 pts
  5. Testing +8 pts
  6. Database +7 pts
  7. TypeScript +7 pts
  8. Automation +6 pts
  9. Python +6 pts
  10. Git +6 pts
Show all 35 skills
  1. REST API +6 pts
  2. Data Structures +5 pts
  3. Debugging +5 pts
  4. Finance +5 pts
  5. Cloud Platform +5 pts
  6. Front End +5 pts
  7. Versioning +5 pts
  8. Computer Science +5 pts
  9. AWS +5 pts
  10. Distributed Systems +5 pts
  11. Full Stack +4 pts
  12. Version Control +4 pts
  13. React +4 pts
  14. Software Development Life Cycle +4 pts
  15. C# +4 pts
  16. Programming +4 pts
  17. Algorithms +3 pts
  18. PostgreSQL +3 pts
  19. Node.js +3 pts
  20. SQL +3 pts
  21. DevOps +3 pts
  22. Microsoft Azure +3 pts
  23. Microservices +3 pts
  24. Optimization +3 pts
  25. Product Management +3 pts

Source: skillsyncer.com/resume-keywords/software-engineer · CC BY 4.0

By seniority

What changes from entry level to senior

Share of job postings asking for each skill, split by the level in the job title. Darker means more job postings at that level ask for it.

Software Engineer: skills by seniority

The share of Software Engineer job postings asking for each skill at each level, with the level read from the job title. Darker cells mean more job postings at that level ask for it.

Skill Entry level 7,934 jobs Mid level 20,942 jobs Senior 3,063 jobs
Coding 62% 61% 62%
Testing 52% 52% 57%
Java 49% 48% 48%
Computer Science 61% 45% 38%
Programming 57% 43% 31%
Python 48% 40% 34%
Database 35% 34% 42%
JavaScript 34% 31% 32%
API 25% 30% 47%
Agile 29% 30% 35%
SQL 25% 26% 32%
Programming Languages 33% 24% 15%

Source: skillsyncer.com/resume-keywords/software-engineer · CC BY 4.0

See how your resume matches a job at your level.

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Copy list

Every keyword, grouped by how expected it is

Use the exact wording, and only for skills you can talk about in an interview.

Core 6

In 40% or more of job postings. Expected on almost every resume for this role.

  • Coding
  • Testing
  • Java
  • Computer Science
  • Programming
  • Python
Common 18

In 15 to 40% of job postings. Worth listing whenever you have them.

  • Database
  • JavaScript
  • API
  • Agile
  • SQL
  • Programming Languages
  • AWS
  • React
  • C++
  • Code Review
  • Front End
  • Algorithms
  • Data Structures
  • Git
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • C#
  • Debugging
  • Microsoft Azure
Specialist 26

Under 15%. They set you apart for the jobs that ask.

  • Automation
  • Microservices
  • REST API
  • Versioning
  • Docker
  • TypeScript
  • Software Development Life Cycle
  • Full Stack
  • Software Solution
  • Kubernetes
  • HTML
  • Version Control
  • Distributed Systems
  • DevOps
  • Product Management
  • Angular
  • Spring
  • Web Applications
  • Node.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • Cloud Platform
  • NoSQL
  • Linux
  • Finance
  • Optimization
  • UI

In context

Bullets that use these keywords

A keyword counts for more inside a bullet that shows what you did with it than in a list at the bottom.

  • Raised automated test coverage on a Java payments service from 41% to 86% with unit and integration testing, catching three release-blocking bugs a quarter before production.

    Testing Java

  • Designed a REST API on AWS (Lambda, DynamoDB) serving 2,000 requests a second for 40 partner integrations.

    API AWS

  • Ran code review for a team of six in two-week Agile sprints, cutting average review turnaround from two days to five hours.

    Code Review Agile

  • Built a Python service that uses artificial intelligence to triage support tickets, routing 70% without a person and halving first response time.

    Python Artificial Intelligence

Get bullets like these written from your own experience.

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Resume examples

Software Engineer resumes built from this data

Entry level, mid level and senior example resumes using these keywords, each measured against the Software Engineer job postings at its level, with notes on why each section is written the way it is.

See the resume examples

Resume guide

Engineering resume guide

How to write the whole resume for this field, section by section.

Read the guide

Related roles

Roles whose jobs ask for similar skills

Measured by overlap in the skills their job postings request, not by job category.

Data Scientist resume keywords

From 8,584 job postings

  • Python 82%
  • Machine Learning 69%
  • SQL 64%

Data Analyst resume keywords

From 31,011 job postings

  • SQL 71%
  • Business Intelligence 54%
  • Dashboarding 52%

Business Analyst resume keywords

From 12,695 job postings

  • Testing 40%
  • Microsoft Excel 38%
  • Business Requirements 36%

Project Manager resume keywords

From 7,516 job postings

  • Budgeting 55%
  • Project Planning 39%
  • Finance 32%

Method

How these numbers were counted

  1. 37,509 scans
  2. 50 keywords
  3. 14,486 resumes
  4. 31,939 job postings

Every figure on this page comes from resumes people scanned against Software Engineer job postings between September 2024 and September 2026: 31,939 distinct job postings and the resumes of 14,486 candidates.

A job posting counts once, however many people scanned it. Each candidate counts once too, with the most recent resume they scanned for this role, so someone who applied to fifty jobs does not outweigh fifty people who applied to one.

Nothing here identifies anyone. These are counts across many people. No resume or job description text, names, contact details or employers are published, and a job title only appears once at least 10 different people have scanned it. See our privacy policy.

Job titles are grouped: "Senior Data Analyst", "Data Analyst II" and "Data Analyst (Remote)" all count here. Keywords are matched against a library of known skills, with different spellings of one skill counted together, so "MS Excel" and "Excel" are one keyword.

Download this data as a CSV. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0, with a link back to this page.

Refreshed every quarter from new scans. Last updated September 2026; next update December 2026.

Common questions

What keywords should I put on a Software Engineer resume?

Start with the core skills, the ones at least 40% of Software Engineer job postings ask for: Coding, Testing, Java, Computer Science, Programming and Python. Use them in the job posting's exact wording, and only for skills you actually have.

Which Software Engineer skills do resumes most often leave out?

Testing, Computer Science and Code Review. Testing appears in 53% of job postings but only 30% of resumes.

Which Software Engineer skills are employers asking for more?

Over the last 12 months, Artificial Intelligence, Coding and API grew the most in share of Software Engineer job postings.

Is my resume published here?

No. Your resume is only ever counted, never shown. This page reports percentages across at least 10 different people per job title, and no resume or job description text, names, contact details or employers appear anywhere in it.

How often is this data updated?

Every quarter, from new scans. This page was last updated in September 2026 and the next update is due in December 2026.

Is this the same as ATS keywords?

Close. An applicant tracking system searches your resume for the skills in the job posting, so the skills job postings ask for most often are the ones an ATS is most often looking for. The only way to know for one job is to check your resume against that job posting.

Which of these is your resume missing?

Scan your resume against a real Software Engineer job.

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