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The differences between lead developers and senior web developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a lead developer and a senior web developer. Additionally, a lead developer has an average salary of $116,340, which is higher than the $97,916 average annual salary of a senior web developer.
The top three skills for a lead developer include java, javascript and architecture. The most important skills for a senior web developer are javascript, web application, and CSS.
| Lead Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $116,340 | $97,916 |
| Hourly rate | $55.93 | $47.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 13% |
| Number of jobs | 274,208 | 239,535 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 senior web developer is responsible for designing, building, and optimizing websites and other software applications. You are expected to perform a few tasks that include identifying client specifications and user requirements, working closely with teams and clients, and testing and documenting software for websites. Other duties include writing, modifying, and debugging websites, keeping up-to-date with the latest social marketing trends, and supervising junior web developers. You will also be responsible for writing code to create web pages and to work closely with mobile developers.
Lead developers and senior web developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Average salary | $116,340 | $97,916 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $161,000 | Between $74,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Media |
There are a few differences between a lead developer and a senior web developer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 senior web developers' demographics:
| Lead Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.4% Female, 23.6% | Male, 81.5% Female, 18.5% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 16.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |