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The differences between developer/consultants and systems developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a developer/consultant, becoming a systems developer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a developer/consultant has an average salary of $98,508, which is higher than the $97,230 average annual salary of a systems developer.
The top three skills for a developer/consultant include java, project management and javascript. The most important skills for a systems developer are java, python, and C++.
| Developer/Consultant | Systems Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,508 | $97,230 |
| Hourly rate | $47.36 | $46.75 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 257,985 | 322,419 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A Systems Developer is responsible for designing and creating software applications and server programs to support business requirements and client specifications. System Developers run multiple diagnostic tests to the systems to ensure performance and stability and revise scripts for optimization as needed. They also evaluate and improve existing networks, develop infrastructure, and set configuration. A Systems Developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to identify network structures and operating systems.
Developer/consultants and systems developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Developer/Consultant | Systems Developer | |
| Average salary | $98,508 | $97,230 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $135,000 | Between $73,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a developer/consultant and a systems developer in terms of educational background:
| Developer/Consultant | Systems Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between developer/consultants' and systems developers' demographics:
| Developer/Consultant | Systems Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.5% Female, 41.5% | Male, 76.5% Female, 23.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 16.6% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |