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The differences between principal developers and developer/consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a principal developer and a developer/consultant. Additionally, a principal developer has an average salary of $126,772, which is higher than the $98,508 average annual salary of a developer/consultant.
The top three skills for a principal developer include java, apis and architecture. The most important skills for a developer/consultant are java, project management, and javascript.
| Principal Developer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $126,772 | $98,508 |
| Hourly rate | $60.95 | $47.36 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 303,930 | 257,985 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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/consultant is responsible for developing system databases and applications, depending on the business' needs and clients' specifications. Developers/consultants design their services to manage optimal performance and maximize productivity for timely submission of projects, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty. They also handle clients' inquiries and concerns, informing them about necessary adjustments to improve strategic procedures and processes. A developer/consultant must have excellent communication and analytical skills, as well as extensive experience with the technology industry.
Principal developers and developer/consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Developer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Average salary | $126,772 | $98,508 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $166,000 | Between $71,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal developer and a developer/consultant in terms of educational background:
| Principal Developer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between principal developers' and developer/consultants' demographics:
| Principal Developer | Developer/Consultant | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 58.5% Female, 41.5% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |