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The differences between principal developers and lead technicians 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 lead technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a principal developer has an average salary of $126,772, which is higher than the $90,615 average annual salary of a lead technician.
The top three skills for a principal developer include java, apis and architecture. The most important skills for a lead technician are java, architecture, and digital transformation.
| Principal Developer | Lead Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $126,772 | $90,615 |
| Hourly rate | $60.95 | $43.56 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 303,930 | 250,590 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Lead technicians are technicians who oversee the technical needs of a specific project or department. They are usually tenured employees, and their familiarity with the company's technical and technological processes, software, and hardware would be a great advantage in succeeding in their role. Lead technicians are responsible for installing, updating, and maintaining various software and hardware components in the office. They often manage a group of technicians, and they ensure that the group they manage is properly trained and well-versed on the processes of the company. Lead technicians are expected to have strong analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Principal developers and lead technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Developer | Lead Technician | |
| Average salary | $126,772 | $90,615 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $166,000 | Between $67,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a principal developer and a lead technician in terms of educational background:
| Principal Developer | Lead Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal developers' and lead technicians' demographics:
| Principal Developer | Lead Technician | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| 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, 10.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 15.1% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |