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The differences between application engineers and applications developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an application engineer, becoming an applications developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an application engineer has an average salary of $92,921, which is higher than the $89,205 average annual salary of an applications developer.
The top three skills for an application engineer include technical support, java and C++. The most important skills for an applications developer are java, javascript, and C++.
| Application Engineer | Applications Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,921 | $89,205 |
| Hourly rate | $44.67 | $42.89 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 111,338 | 279,877 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs. They also generate ideas and locate other business opportunities by analyzing current trends in the technology market that would help build revenues and increase profitability for the company. An application engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, software application processes, and general technology disciplines.
An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs. Duties of an application developer also include running diagnostic tests to ensure the application's performance and stability, providing instruction manuals for reference, performing troubleshooting for any inconsistencies, upgrading design codes for optimization, and launching the application following the client's timetable.
Application engineers and applications developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Application Engineer | Applications Developer | |
| Average salary | $92,921 | $89,205 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $67,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Morgan Lewis | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between an application engineer and an applications developer in terms of educational background:
| Application Engineer | Applications Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between application engineers' and applications developers' demographics:
| Application Engineer | Applications Developer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 11.5% White, 74.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 8% |