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The differences between developers 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 developer and a software developer. Additionally, a developer has an average salary of $100,076, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a developer include javascript, python and java. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,076 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $48.11 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 262,570 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 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.
Developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $100,076 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $131,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | - | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.9% Female, 25.1% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| 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, 4.5% 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% |