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The differences between junior programmers and associate software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a junior programmer, becoming an associate software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an associate software engineer has an average salary of $78,981, 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 associate software engineer are java, python, and C++.
| Junior Programmer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,448 | $78,981 |
| Hourly rate | $29.54 | $37.97 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 215,345 | 298,481 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
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 associate software engineer is an individual who is responsible for improving existing software or designing new application software. Working under the supervision of a senior software engineer and together with a team of engineering professionals, associate software engineers must be able to code software and ensure that it can run with different types of technology. They must have the technical knowledge and expertise of commanding programming languages such as JAVA, HTML, and CSS. Associate software engineers are also required to assist the QA team in testing the software before it is released to the customers.
Junior programmers and associate software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Programmer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $61,448 | $78,981 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $82,000 | Between $60,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | PlayStation | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a junior programmer and an associate software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Programmer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between junior programmers' and associate software engineers' demographics:
| Junior Programmer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% | Male, 67.3% Female, 32.7% |
| 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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 39.6% White, 43.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |