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The differences between information 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 an information developer and a software developer. Additionally, an information developer has an average salary of $98,933, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for an information developer include java, C++ and javascript. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Information Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,933 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $47.56 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 215,866 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An Information Developer is responsible for writing hardware and software documentation. This documentation includes online help, manuals, design specifications, project plans, test plans, business correspondence, and others.
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.
Information developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $98,933 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $132,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Information Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | 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 information developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Information Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% 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% |