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The differences between applications developers and front end 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 applications developer and a front end developer. Additionally, a front end developer has an average salary of $92,147, which is higher than the $89,205 average annual salary of an applications developer.
The top three skills for an applications developer include java, javascript and C++. The most important skills for a front end developer are javascript, front-end, and html css.
| Applications Developer | Front End Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,205 | $92,147 |
| Hourly rate | $42.89 | $44.30 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 13% |
| Number of jobs | 279,877 | 124,876 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
Front-end developers architect and develop applications and websites through web technologies. They are responsible for the implementation of visual elements that every user sees and interacts with on web applications. They are often supported by the back-end web developers who are in charge of server application logic and integration. They must know CSS or HTML. They should be equipped with CSS processing skills, browser developer tools, version control, JavaScript framework, and responsive design skills.
Applications developers and front end developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Applications Developer | Front End Developer | |
| Average salary | $89,205 | $92,147 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $68,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Lifetime |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an applications developer and a front end developer in terms of educational background:
| Applications Developer | Front End Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between applications developers' and front end developers' demographics:
| Applications Developer | Front End Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% | Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 15.8% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |