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The differences between developers and mainframe 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, becoming a mainframe developer takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a developer has an average salary of $100,076, which is higher than the $90,902 average annual salary of a mainframe developer.
The top three skills for a developer include javascript, python and java. The most important skills for a mainframe developer are DB2, JCL, and CICS.
| Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,076 | $90,902 |
| Hourly rate | $48.11 | $43.70 |
| Growth rate | 21% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 262,570 | 255,034 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
Developers are usually system or application developers in a company who work on specific projects related to networks or applications from conception to implementation. They attend planning sessions to ensure that the program is feasible. They are responsible for designing the system through coding and basic user interface design. They also work on troubleshooting any challenges that may be met at the testing stage of the program's development. They solve challenges and ensure that minimal problems will arise upon publishing the system or application. They also manage the evaluation to ensure that the program's goals are accomplished and that the end-users are satisfied with the results.
A mainframe developer specializes in designing and developing information technology systems. Their responsibilities include performing system installations and modifications, creating test structures, gathering and analyzing data, conducting risk assessments, providing support for project requirements, and implementing plans such as disaster recovery and interface layout. They may also investigate client feedback, troubleshoot issues, and perform systems repairs as needed. Furthermore, as a mainframe developer, it is essential to maintain regular maintenance checks, providing technical support and guidelines to company employees.
Developers and mainframe developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average salary | $100,076 | $90,902 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $131,000 | Between $70,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a developer and a mainframe developer in terms of educational background:
| Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between developers' and mainframe developers' demographics:
| Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.9% Female, 25.1% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 26.0% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |