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Developer/consultant vs software consultant

The differences between developer/consultants and software consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a developer/consultant and a software consultant. Additionally, a developer/consultant has an average salary of $98,508, which is higher than the $88,605 average annual salary of a software consultant.

The top three skills for a developer/consultant include java, project management and javascript. The most important skills for a software consultant are web application, database, and java.

Developer/consultant vs software consultant overview

Developer/ConsultantSoftware Consultant
Yearly salary$98,508$88,605
Hourly rate$47.36$42.60
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs257,985275,746
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

What does a developer/consultant do?

A developer/consultant is responsible for developing system databases and applications, depending on the business' needs and clients' specifications. Developers/consultants design their services to manage optimal performance and maximize productivity for timely submission of projects, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty. They also handle clients' inquiries and concerns, informing them about necessary adjustments to improve strategic procedures and processes. A developer/consultant must have excellent communication and analytical skills, as well as extensive experience with the technology industry.

What does a software consultant do?

A software consultant is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the technological content and system applications of an organization, ensuring its efficiency and optimal performance. Software consultants design software systems, following clients' specifications and business needs. They must have excellent knowledge of the technology systems, programming languages, and system codes to create software processes and manage the network systems. A software consultant runs multiple diagnostic tests and creates troubleshooting reports for technical support reference.

Developer/consultant vs software consultant salary

Developer/consultants and software consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Developer/ConsultantSoftware Consultant
Average salary$98,508$88,605
Salary rangeBetween $71,000 And $135,000Between $68,000 And $115,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew York
Best paying companyMicrosoftSilver Peak
Best paying industryTechnologyHealth Care

Differences between developer/consultant and software consultant education

There are a few differences between a developer/consultant and a software consultant in terms of educational background:

Developer/ConsultantSoftware Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Developer/consultant vs software consultant demographics

Here are the differences between developer/consultants' and software consultants' demographics:

Developer/ConsultantSoftware Consultant
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 58.5% Female, 41.5%Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between developer/consultant and software consultant duties and responsibilities

Developer/consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage SDLC development including analysis, writing technical documentation, design, coding, testing.
  • Lead the project, development and architecture of an innovative SharePoint contract warehouse, including designing several process improvements.
  • Interpret, develop, and enhance graphic, visual & interaction designs in HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
  • Work with other web technologies such as AJAX, jQuery, and PHP throughout this redesign.
  • Work with AJAX data consisting of JSON responses parsing the same and presenting on the UI layer.
  • Coordinate new test environment builds with CICS & DB2 support teams, streamline existing test environments by identifying and eliminating redundancies.
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Software consultant example responsibilities.

  • Develop a tool under Linux using C/C++ and raw network sockets to automate testing and for bench marking.
  • Develop and implement Unix and Perl shell scripts to automate application support process and to minimize troubleshooting latency.
  • Develop UI using HTML, JavaScript, JSP, DHTML, CSS for interactive cross browser functionality and complex user interface.
  • Design and review Java application architecture; analyze software development process and suggest alternative technologies.
  • Used Java, JavaScript, HTML, store procedures, cursors, complex joins, etc.
  • Live supplier data and distributor information are fed into the system via BizTalk server using XML web services as external subscriptions.
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Developer/consultant vs software consultant skills

Common developer/consultant skills
  • Java, 8%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • JavaScript, 6%
  • HR, 6%
  • Microservices, 4%
  • JQuery, 4%
Common software consultant skills
  • Web Application, 9%
  • Database, 7%
  • Java, 6%
  • PL/SQL, 5%
  • SQL Server, 5%
  • Software Development, 3%

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