Also called: Linux Kernel Developer, Kernel Engineer
Writes the core code of operating systems like Linux, Windows or Android that controls memory, files and every device in a computer.
A new chip's power-saving mode makes laptops freeze, so you dig through kernel logs and find two pieces of code racing each other. You write a fix, run stress tests overnight and send the patch to a public mailing list. Reviewers around the world pick it apart before it's accepted.
Estimated from big tech and chip company postings.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in computer science or computer engineering; open-source work matters a lot.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Computer Science, Computer Engineering.
Growing about average. A few thousand core developers worldwide; steady demand.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI helps write and review code, but low-level debugging on real hardware and kernel design stay expert work.
Classes: AP Computer Science, Math, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 15-1252.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.