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The differences between associate application developers and lead software 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 associate application developer and a lead software developer. Additionally, a lead software developer has an average salary of $115,072, which is higher than the $102,156 average annual salary of an associate application developer.
The top three skills for an associate application developer include java, application development and C++. The most important skills for a lead software developer are java, architecture, and application development.
| Associate Application Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,156 | $115,072 |
| Hourly rate | $49.11 | $55.32 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 105,360 | 309,029 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An Associate Application Developer works at a company's information technology department, where they are in charge of developing applications and systems according to project requirements. Their job entails planning strategies, writing codes, creating back-ups, producing and implementing test structures, troubleshooting issues, identifying and eliminating bugs, and providing technical support. They may also conduct research and analyses, gather and analyze consumer feedback, and perform regular maintenance checks. Moreover, an Associate Application Developer usually works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for an efficient and smooth workflow.
A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface. They also coordinate with the design engineers to modify and improve the features of existing software applications for optimal performance. A lead software developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in considering the current technology trends to meet demands.
Associate application developers and lead software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Application Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $102,156 | $115,072 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $132,000 | Between $87,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Safeway | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an associate application developer and a lead software developer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Application Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between associate application developers' and lead software developers' demographics:
| Associate Application Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |