Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between application software developers and software engineers 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 software engineer. Additionally, an application software developer has an average salary of $104,724, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for an application software developer include java, C++ and javascript. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Application Software Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,724 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $50.35 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 299,719 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Application software developers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Application Software Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $104,724 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $136,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an application software developer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Application Software Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between application software developers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Application Software Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |