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The differences between developer support engineers and developer/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 support engineer and a developer/consultant. Additionally, a developer support engineer has an average salary of $111,050, which is higher than the $98,508 average annual salary of a developer/consultant.
The top three skills for a developer support engineer include java, C++ and python. The most important skills for a developer/consultant are java, project management, and javascript.
| Developer Support Engineer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $111,050 | $98,508 |
| Hourly rate | $53.39 | $47.36 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 393,440 | 257,985 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
In the information technology industry, a developer support engineer focuses on assisting developers by designing and solutions according to the projects' needs. Their responsibilities often include developing software and hardware, installing and configuring systems, creating test structures, reviewing specifications, gathering and analyzing data to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current processes, and implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, a developer support engineer must maintain an active communication line with development teams for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Developer support engineers and developer/consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Developer Support Engineer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Average salary | $111,050 | $98,508 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $145,000 | Between $71,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Meta | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a developer support engineer and a developer/consultant in terms of educational background:
| Developer Support Engineer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between developer support engineers' and developer/consultants' demographics:
| Developer Support Engineer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 58.5% Female, 41.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.7% 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 Percentage | 8% | 8% |