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The differences between business development executives and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a business development executive, becoming a software developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a business development executive has an average salary of $97,871, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a business development executive include business development, digital transformation and customer service. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Business Development Executive | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,871 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $47.05 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 189,950 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
A business development executive serves as a senior manager who drives company sales. Business development executives convince existing clients to buy more offerings and also source new clients. The focus of their job is on lead generation, prospect management, and customer acquisition. They collaborate with management in terms of sales objectives, planning, and prediction. The skills necessary for this job include customer service and relations, time management, strong written communication, and sales process experience.
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.
Business development executives and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Development Executive | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $97,871 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $149,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Phoenix, AZ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Arizona | California |
| Best paying company | Clifford Chance | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a business development executive and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Business Development Executive | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between business development executives' and software developers' demographics:
| Business Development Executive | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% 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 | 10% | 8% |