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The differences between contract programmers and programmers 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 programmer. Additionally, a contract programmer has an average salary of $80,027, which is higher than the $73,007 average annual salary of a programmer.
The top three skills for a contract programmer include microsoft sql server, C++ and web application. The most important skills for a programmer are java, javascript, and CSS.
| Contract Programmer | Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,027 | $73,007 |
| Hourly rate | $38.47 | $35.10 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 199,998 | 234,565 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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.
Computer programmers provide assistance and services concerning computer applications and software programs. A computer programmer must be highly-knowledgeable on programming languages and operating systems to create projects and fix any malfunctions under minimal supervision. Computer programmers must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to analyze data and request assistance from a senior programmer as needed. They must also be keen on details to oversee possible faulty codes, troubleshooting problems, and upgrading systems to ensure that the program will perform smoothly and efficiently.
Contract programmers and programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Programmer | Programmer | |
| Average salary | $80,027 | $73,007 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $104,000 | Between $54,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Bothell, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a contract programmer and a programmer in terms of educational background:
| Contract Programmer | Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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 programmers' demographics:
| Contract Programmer | Programmer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 17.8% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |