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The differences between application software developers and lead developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an application software developer and a lead developer. Additionally, a lead developer has an average salary of $116,340, which is higher than the $104,724 average annual salary of an application software developer.
The top three skills for an application software developer include java, C++ and javascript. The most important skills for a lead developer are java, javascript, and architecture.
| Application Software Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,724 | $116,340 |
| Hourly rate | $50.35 | $55.93 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 299,719 | 274,208 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An application software developer is responsible for creating and designing software systems and applications according to the clients' specifications or business demands. Application software developers operate various system tools and programming codes to customize programs, implement software solutions, modify test codes, and update existing applications to boost efficiency and optimal performance. They perform multiple diagnostic tests before releasing outputs to ensure its stability, smooth navigation, and flawless transitions. An application software developer coordinates with the clients or supervisor for the project updates, following the budget goals and timeframes.
A lead developer is responsible for creating software programs and applications, following the client and the business's software quality standards and design specifications. Lead developers assist a team of developers in implementing strategic procedures, managing system codes, debugging applications, running diagnostic tests, and troubleshooting defects to ensure its smooth performance. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, performing feature adjustments as needed. A lead developer must have strong knowledge of the technology industry and command on programming languages and software design processes.
Application software developers and lead developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Application Software Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Average salary | $104,724 | $116,340 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $136,000 | Between $83,000 And $161,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Retail |
There are a few differences between an application software developer and a lead developer in terms of educational background:
| Application Software Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between application software developers' and lead developers' demographics:
| Application Software Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% | Male, 76.4% Female, 23.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |