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The differences between developer support engineers 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 support engineer and a software developer. Additionally, a developer support engineer has an average salary of $111,050, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a developer support engineer include java, C++ and python. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Developer Support Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $111,050 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $53.39 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 393,440 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 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.
Developer support engineers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Developer Support Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $111,050 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $145,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a developer support engineer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Developer Support Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between developer support engineers' and software developers' demographics:
| Developer Support Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| 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, 4.5% 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% |