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The differences between gis developers and lead 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 gis developer and a lead developer. Additionally, a lead developer has an average salary of $116,340, which is higher than the $100,464 average annual salary of a gis developer.
The top three skills for a gis developer include esri, C++ and arcgis server. The most important skills for a lead developer are java, javascript, and architecture.
| GIS Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,464 | $116,340 |
| Hourly rate | $48.30 | $55.93 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 82,279 | 274,208 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A GIS developer, also known as a geographic information system developer, specializes in designing and creating applications and software that gathers and features geographic data from different locations. In some industries, a GIS developer may also have the task of analyzing aerial imagery, developing databases and maps, and creating tools to facilitate various programs and projects. Additionally, a GIS developer usually works as a member of a software development team, which requires an open communication line for an efficient workflow.
A lead developer is responsible for creating software programs and applications, following the client and the business's software quality standards and design specifications. Lead developers assist a team of developers in implementing strategic procedures, managing system codes, debugging applications, running diagnostic tests, and troubleshooting defects to ensure its smooth performance. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, performing feature adjustments as needed. A lead developer must have strong knowledge of the technology industry and command on programming languages and software design processes.
Gis developers and lead developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| GIS Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Average salary | $100,464 | $116,340 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $140,000 | Between $83,000 And $161,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | California |
| Best paying company | Pacific Gas and Electric | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Retail |
There are a few differences between a gis developer and a lead developer in terms of educational background:
| GIS Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Geography | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between gis developers' and lead developers' demographics:
| GIS Developer | Lead Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7% | Male, 76.4% Female, 23.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% 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% |