Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between associate application developers and 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 software developer. Additionally, an associate application developer has an average salary of $102,156, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for an associate application developer include java, application development and C++. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Associate Application Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,156 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $49.11 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 105,360 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 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.
Associate application developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Application Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $102,156 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $132,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Safeway | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an associate application developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Application Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between associate application developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Associate Application Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| 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, 4.5% 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% |