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The differences between designs, development 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 a design, development and a software developer. Additionally, a design, development has an average salary of $93,226, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a design, development include web application, javascript and CSS. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Design, Development | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,226 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $44.82 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 280,910 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Design development engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for developing a detailed design and engineering document for a construction project. These engineers are required to review engineering drawings from vendors and recommend changes when necessary, as well as the bill of materials. They must assist drafters and engineering designers in developing engineering design and construction by using computer-assisted design equipment and software. Design development engineers should also participate in activities related to quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC).
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.
Designs, development and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design, Development | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $93,226 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $128,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a design, development and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Design, Development | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between designs, development' and software developers' demographics:
| Design, Development | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.5% Female, 27.5% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% 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% |