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The differences between contract programmers and mainframe developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a contract programmer and a mainframe developer. Additionally, a mainframe developer has an average salary of $90,902, which is higher than the $80,027 average annual salary of a contract programmer.
The top three skills for a contract programmer include microsoft sql server, C++ and web application. The most important skills for a mainframe developer are DB2, JCL, and CICS.
| Contract Programmer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,027 | $90,902 |
| Hourly rate | $38.47 | $43.70 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 199,998 | 255,034 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A Contract Programmer writes computer code used in software applications. They work by the project or by the job on a contract basis, rather than as full-time employees of a company.
A mainframe developer specializes in designing and developing information technology systems. Their responsibilities include performing system installations and modifications, creating test structures, gathering and analyzing data, conducting risk assessments, providing support for project requirements, and implementing plans such as disaster recovery and interface layout. They may also investigate client feedback, troubleshoot issues, and perform systems repairs as needed. Furthermore, as a mainframe developer, it is essential to maintain regular maintenance checks, providing technical support and guidelines to company employees.
Contract programmers and mainframe developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Programmer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average salary | $80,027 | $90,902 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $104,000 | Between $70,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a contract programmer and a mainframe developer in terms of educational background:
| Contract Programmer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between contract programmers' and mainframe developers' demographics:
| Contract Programmer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 14.9% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 26.0% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |