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The differences between junior programmers and applications programmers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a junior programmer and an applications programmer. Additionally, an applications programmer has an average salary of $85,133, which is higher than the $61,448 average annual salary of a junior programmer.
The top three skills for a junior programmer include C++, javascript and web application. The most important skills for an applications programmer are java, C++, and database.
| Junior Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,448 | $85,133 |
| Hourly rate | $29.54 | $40.93 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 215,345 | 215,240 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
Junior programmers are entry-level professionals who are responsible for designing and implementing computer software that meets the needs of internal and external clients. Under the supervision of the IT director and development coordinator, these programmers must work with a team to develop specifications and write software applications. They are required to write code, test, and troubleshoot programs that utilize database and programming technology. Junior programmers must also consult users to analyze the performance of programs and take actions to correct deficiencies.
An application programmer is responsible for creating and designing computer systems and applications according to client specifications and business requirements. Application programmers run quality checks on the draft outputs to ensure its stability and efficiency for high-level performance. They also evaluate existing applications and recommend technical solutions to improve scalability. An application programmer must have excellent technical skills with a strong command of programming languages and system codes to determine the feasibility of applications and adjust features as needed.
Junior programmers and applications programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Average salary | $61,448 | $85,133 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $82,000 | Between $64,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | PlayStation | Dropbox |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a junior programmer and an applications programmer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between junior programmers' and applications programmers' demographics:
| Junior Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 17.6% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 16.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |