Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between principal developers and developer analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a principal developer, becoming a developer analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal developer has an average salary of $126,772, which is higher than the $85,279 average annual salary of a developer analyst.
The top three skills for a principal developer include java, apis and architecture. The most important skills for a developer analyst are java, C++, and eclipse.
| Principal Developer | Developer Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $126,772 | $85,279 |
| Hourly rate | $60.95 | $41.00 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 303,930 | 219,524 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
In the information technology industry, a principal developer is in charge of spearheading software and application development projects. It is their duty to perform extensive research and analysis, set objectives and guidelines, establish budgets and timelines, lead the planning and implementation stages, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They must also maintain an active communication line with staff to resolve issues should any arise. Moreover, as a principal developer, they must monitor the projects' workflow to ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
A developer analyst is an individual who is responsible for building application requirements and develops database solutions that allow operational efficiency and user-friendly tools. Developer analysts are required to develop a detailed definition of business solutions that can include database design, data flow, and transaction processing requirements. They work with other teams to design and implement a web application that manages internal processes and can result in increased productivity. Developer analysts are also required to perform integration tests for various vendors for services that are according to business requirements and testing processes.
Principal developers and developer analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Developer | Developer Analyst | |
| Average salary | $126,772 | $85,279 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $166,000 | Between $64,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a principal developer and a developer analyst in terms of educational background:
| Principal Developer | Developer Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between principal developers' and developer analysts' demographics:
| Principal Developer | Developer Analyst | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 17.8% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |