Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between information technology applications developers and contract 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 technology applications developer and a contract developer. Additionally, an information technology applications developer has an average salary of $95,731, which is higher than the $91,433 average annual salary of a contract developer.
The top three skills for an information technology applications developer include java, application development and C++. The most important skills for a contract developer are C++, javascript, and java.
| Information Technology Applications Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $95,731 | $91,433 |
| Hourly rate | $46.02 | $43.96 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 234,643 | 249,808 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An information technology applications developer is responsible for modifying and developing source code for software applications and debugging code. These applications developed and modified are aimed at supporting customers with computer tasks or programs. They also work closely with customers to develop new software applications and make modifications to existing applications to meet customers' needs. In addition, they also process the needs of users to customize software for computer programs, prototype application design, implement and test source code, and handle software applications troubleshooting.
Contract Developers develop secure web applications for data collections, quality measurement efforts, and reporting purposes for large-scale performance, wireframes and UI specifications for interactive and static reporting and analysis features, and developing UI to interact with reporting engines. They are involved with system design and technical documentation and responsible for dot net development. In this position, contract developers must excellent in problem-solving, analytical skills and attention to detail, display and manipulate performance metrics, and highly confident dealing with internal and external clients.
Information technology applications developers and contract developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Applications Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Average salary | $95,731 | $91,433 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $125,000 | Between $67,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Palo Alto Networks | Avanade |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information technology applications developer and a contract developer in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Applications Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between information technology applications developers' and contract developers' demographics:
| Information Technology Applications Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% | Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 27.8% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |