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The differences between developer analysts and lead developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a developer analyst, becoming a lead developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a lead developer has an average salary of $116,340, which is higher than the $85,279 average annual salary of a developer analyst.
The top three skills for a developer analyst include java, C++ and eclipse. The most important skills for a lead developer are java, javascript, and architecture.
| Developer Analyst | Lead Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,279 | $116,340 |
| Hourly rate | $41.00 | $55.93 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 219,524 | 274,208 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A developer analyst is an individual who is responsible for building application requirements and develops database solutions that allow operational efficiency and user-friendly tools. Developer analysts are required to develop a detailed definition of business solutions that can include database design, data flow, and transaction processing requirements. They work with other teams to design and implement a web application that manages internal processes and can result in increased productivity. Developer analysts are also required to perform integration tests for various vendors for services that are according to business requirements and testing processes.
A lead developer is responsible for creating software programs and applications, following the client and the business's software quality standards and design specifications. Lead developers assist a team of developers in implementing strategic procedures, managing system codes, debugging applications, running diagnostic tests, and troubleshooting defects to ensure its smooth performance. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, performing feature adjustments as needed. A lead developer must have strong knowledge of the technology industry and command on programming languages and software design processes.
Developer analysts and lead developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Developer Analyst | Lead Developer | |
| Average salary | $85,279 | $116,340 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $113,000 | Between $83,000 And $161,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a developer analyst and a lead developer in terms of educational background:
| Developer Analyst | Lead Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between developer analysts' and lead developers' demographics:
| Developer Analyst | Lead Developer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% | Male, 76.4% Female, 23.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 17.8% White, 56.3% 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% |