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The differences between applications programmers and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become an applications programmer, becoming a software developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software developer has an average salary of $87,521, which is higher than the $85,133 average annual salary of an applications programmer.
The top three skills for an applications programmer include java, C++ and database. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Applications Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,133 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $40.93 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 215,240 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
An application programmer is responsible for creating and designing computer systems and applications according to client specifications and business requirements. Application programmers run quality checks on the draft outputs to ensure its stability and efficiency for high-level performance. They also evaluate existing applications and recommend technical solutions to improve scalability. An application programmer must have excellent technical skills with a strong command of programming languages and system codes to determine the feasibility of applications and adjust features as needed.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Applications programmers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Applications Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $85,133 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $112,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Dropbox | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an applications programmer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Applications Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between applications programmers' and software developers' demographics:
| Applications Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 16.4% White, 65.3% 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 | 11% | 8% |