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The differences between lead developers and mainframe developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a lead developer, becoming a mainframe developer takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a lead developer has an average salary of $116,340, which is higher than the $90,902 average annual salary of a mainframe developer.
The top three skills for a lead developer include java, javascript and architecture. The most important skills for a mainframe developer are DB2, JCL, and CICS.
| Lead Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $116,340 | $90,902 |
| Hourly rate | $55.93 | $43.70 |
| Growth rate | 21% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 274,208 | 255,034 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
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.
A mainframe developer specializes in designing and developing information technology systems. Their responsibilities include performing system installations and modifications, creating test structures, gathering and analyzing data, conducting risk assessments, providing support for project requirements, and implementing plans such as disaster recovery and interface layout. They may also investigate client feedback, troubleshoot issues, and perform systems repairs as needed. Furthermore, as a mainframe developer, it is essential to maintain regular maintenance checks, providing technical support and guidelines to company employees.
Lead developers and mainframe developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average salary | $116,340 | $90,902 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $161,000 | Between $70,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a lead developer and a mainframe developer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between lead developers' and mainframe developers' demographics:
| Lead Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.4% Female, 23.6% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 26.0% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |