Welcome!
This interactive mini‑site completes the ICS3U Careers Assignment. It explores the Programming job category by focusing on the real‑world career of a Software Developer / Programmer (NOC 21232) and maps the pathway through the University of Waterloo Computer Science program.
About This Project
This interactive mini‑site is my researched career exploration for ICS3U. It focuses on the Programming career area through the specific role of a Software Developer / Programmer (NOC 21232) and maps an academic pathway via the University of Waterloo Computer Science program. Inside you’ll find: a career overview, required education/training, labour‑market outlook, salary data, a personal fit reflection, program entrance requirements, first‑year course plan, degree structure, co‑op information, and full APA references.
Career Profile: Software Developer / Programmer (NOC 21232)
Software developers and programmers design, write, test, and maintain the code that powers applications, operating systems, games, embedded devices, and cloud platforms. They translate user needs and system requirements into working software using programming languages, development tools, and collaborative workflows such as version control and agile project management (Government of Canada, 2025).
Common responsibilities include analyzing problems; designing algorithms and data structures; writing and debugging code; integrating software components; performing code reviews; testing and quality assurance; documenting solutions; and maintaining or upgrading existing systems. Developers work for software publishers, consulting firms, financial institutions, government, start‑ups, and in‑house IT teams across most industries (Government of Canada, 2024–2025; Government of Canada, 2025).
Education & Training
This occupation usually requires a university degree (bachelor’s or higher) in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Alternate pathways include college diplomas with bridging, industry certifications, and self‑directed learning, but employers hiring for development roles frequently list degree‑level education as preferred (Government of Canada, 2025; University of Waterloo, 2025).
Core Technical Skill Tags
Where the Jobs Are
- Computer systems design & related services
- Finance, insurance & fintech
- Information & cultural industries (software publishing, media, gaming)
- Public sector & health IT
Sector mix varies by region; large tech and financial hubs (e.g., Greater Toronto Area) concentrate many roles, while local manufacturing and public‑sector IT drive demand in other regions (Government of Canada, 2024–2025; Government of Canada, 2025).
Labour Market & Salary
Ontario Outlook (2024–2026)
The Government of Canada Job Bank projects a Moderate employment outlook for Software developers and programmers in Ontario for the 2024‑2026 period. Employment growth will create some new positions, and relatively few openings are expected from retirements (Government of Canada, 2024–2025).
Canada‑Wide Snapshot
Nationally, software developers and programmers show strong participation across provinces. The Job Bank reports a median wage of about $46.15/hour (~$96K/yr full‑time) and indicates that roles typically require university education (Government of Canada, 2025).
Regional variation inside Ontario
Within Ontario, outlooks range from good in some regions (e.g., Stratford‑Bruce Peninsula) to limited in others (e.g., Northwest), with moderate projections for major centres including Toronto and Ottawa. Regional industrial mix and employer demand drive these differences (Government of Canada, 2024–2025).
Career Progression (Typical Path)
Junior Developer
0‑2 yrs. Focus on learning codebases, debugging, tickets, and mentorship.
Intermediate Developer
3‑5 yrs. Own features, design components, collaborate across teams.
Senior / Lead
6+ yrs. Architecture decisions, code reviews, mentoring, reliability.
Beyond Coding
Paths into Technical Lead, Engineering Manager, Product, Start‑up Founder.
Progression timelines vary by company and performance; strong fundamentals plus co‑op experience can accelerate early growth (Government of Canada, 2025; University of Waterloo, 2025).
Salary Explorer (Select Career Stage)
Salary data sources combine Government of Canada Job Bank wages, employee‑reported salary surveys (Indeed), job‑posting aggregates (ZipRecruiter), and tech‑company total compensation submissions (Levels.fyi) to show a realistic range across education levels and experience. Dates current to July 16, 2025 (Government of Canada, 2025; Indeed, 2025; ZipRecruiter, 2025; Levels.fyi, 2025).
Pathway: University of Waterloo Computer Science
The University of Waterloo’s Computer Science (regular or co‑op) program is housed in the Cheriton School of Computer Science within the Faculty of Mathematics. Admission is competitive (individual selection typically in the low‑to‑mid 90s range) and requires strong Grade 12 math preparation (University of Waterloo, 2025; OUInfo, 2025).
Entrance Requirements (Ontario High School)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| OSSD + 6 Grade 12 U/M courses | Includes all required courses listed below. |
| Advanced Functions (MHF4U) | Required. |
| Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U) | Required. |
| Any Grade 12 U English | ENG4U or equivalent (EAE4U accepted). |
| One additional 4U course | Counts in top six average. |
| Recommended CS Background | ICS3U recommended preparation. |
| Admission Information Form (AIF) | Required for all Faculty of Mathematics programs (incl. CS). |
Meeting minimums does not guarantee admission; Waterloo uses holistic review including grades, the AIF, and sometimes contest participation (University of Waterloo, 2025; OUInfo, 2025).
First‑Year Course Plan
1A Term (Fall)
- CS 115 Intro to CS 1 or CS 135 Designing Functional Programs
- MATH 135 Algebra
- MATH 137 Calculus 1
- Communication course
- Elective
1B Term (Winter)
- CS 116 Intro to CS 2 or CS 136 Algorithm Design & Data Abstraction + CS 136L Software Dev Tools
- MATH 136 Linear Algebra 1
- MATH 138 Calculus 2
- Two electives
Advanced ("enriched") streams (CS 145, advanced algebra/calculus) are available for highly prepared students (Cheriton School of Computer Science, 2025).
Program Length & Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Computer Science (regular) typically takes four years; the co‑op program extends the calendar time (often ~5 years) because students alternate academic terms with paid work placements. Degree completion requires CS & Math core courses, breadth/communication electives, and successful completion of co‑op work terms if enrolled in co‑op (University of Waterloo, 2025).
- CS & Math Core: Sequential CS programming + algorithms courses; calculus, algebra, linear algebra foundation through upper years.
- Breadth / Communication: Non‑Math communication and breadth electives required for graduation.
- Minimum Averages: Students must maintain required major and overall averages to remain in good standing and progress (see CS academic regulations).
- Work‑Integrated Learning: If enrolled in co‑op, complete 4–6 paid work terms plus associated professional development (PD) courses & work reports.
- Time to Complete: Regular ~4 yrs; Co‑op sequence usually ~5 yrs due to alternating work/school terms.
Co‑op: Earn While You Learn
Waterloo operates North America’s largest co‑op (paid internship) program. Students alternate four‑month school terms with four‑month full‑time paid work terms, building up to ~2 years of experience before graduation. Co‑op roles include software development, data engineering, product, game dev, and research across Canada and globally (University of Waterloo, 2025).
Preparation Timeline (You → Waterloo CS)
Is Software Development a Good Fit For Me?
Below is my personal reflection on whether I (Krish Modi) would pursue Software Development after studying Computer Science at Waterloo.
Reasons I would pursue this career
- I (Krish Modi) am actively learning HTML in class and teaching myself more outside class because I'm passionate about coding and building software.
- I've already started building real projects (e.g., e‑commerce shipping plug‑in, AI/automation tools), so a CS degree would let me scale those skills into production‑grade software.
- High demand across industries; skills stay portable (remote work possible) (Government of Canada, 2024–2025; Government of Canada, 2025).
- Strong earning potential with growth from junior to senior roles (Indeed, 2025; ZipRecruiter, 2025).
- The Waterloo / GTA tech ecosystem is a great tech community fit for me, and Waterloo’s co‑op lets me test different sectors (start‑ups, finance, big tech) before committing (University of Waterloo, 2025).
Reasons I might not pursue this career
- Admission to top CS programs is highly competitive; requires sustained high averages and extra application work (AIF, contests) (University of Waterloo, 2025; OUInfo, 2025).
- Rapidly changing technologies demand ongoing upskilling; developers must continually learn new tools and languages (Government of Canada, 2025).
- Workload spikes (deadlines, production issues) can create stress and long hours in some sectors (Government of Canada, 2024–2025).
References (APA)
- Applying and admissions | Cheriton School of Computer Science | University of Waterloo. (2024, July 4). Uwaterloo.ca. https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/future-undergraduate-students/applying-admissions
- Canada, E. and S. D. (n.d.). Software Developer in Ontario | Job prospects - Job Bank. Www.jobbank.gc.ca. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/22548/ON
- Developer. (2025). ZipRecruiter. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Developer-Salary--in-Ontario
- Dog, B. (2025). Computer Science (Regular/Co-op) – OUInfo. Ouinfo.ca. https://www.ouinfo.ca/programs/waterloo/wcs
- First-year students | Cheriton School of Computer Science | University of Waterloo. (2024, October). Uwaterloo.ca. https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/current-undergraduate-students/majors/first-year-students
- Junior software engineer salary in Ontario. (2025). Indeed.com. https://ca.indeed.com/career/junior-software-engineer/salaries/Ontario
- Salary: Software Engineers in Ontario (May, 2024). (n.d.). ZipRecruiter. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Software-Engineers-Salary--in-Ontario
- Senior software engineer salary in Ontario. (2025). Indeed.com. https://ca.indeed.com/career/senior-software-engineer/salaries/Ontario
- Software Developer in Canada | Labour Market Facts and Figures. (n.d.). Www.jobbank.gc.ca. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/22548/ca
- Software Engineer salary in Ontario. (n.d.). Ca.indeed.com. https://ca.indeed.com/career/software-engineer/salaries/Ontario
- Software Engineer Salary in Toronto, Canada. (n.d.). Levels.fyi. https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/greater-toronto-area
- University of Waterloo. (2013, February 26). Co-op. Undergraduate Programs. https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/co-op
- University of Waterloo. (2019, February 13). Computer Science. University of Waterloo. https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/programs/computer-science
Accessed July 16, 2025.