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The differences between lead java developers and software 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 java developer and a software developer. Additionally, a lead java developer has an average salary of $104,818, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a lead java developer include java, spring boot and web services. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Lead Java Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,818 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $50.39 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 13% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 240,248 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A lead Java developer's primary responsibility is to develop and design modern technologies for back-end systems. They do end-to-end software process development of feature from requirements gathering, development to automated testing. They collaborate with other cross-functional teams, including researchers, third party vendor, for timely, on-point software delivery. Mostly, they upgrade existing functionalities and new functionalities using data-driven insights. In addition, this job requires hands-on software development experience working in agile-based projects from providing technical support to the team.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Lead java developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Java Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $104,818 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $134,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | J.P. Morgan | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead java developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Java Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between lead java developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Lead Java Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 15.8% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |