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The differences between principal 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 principal developer and a senior web developer. Additionally, a principal developer has an average salary of $126,772, which is higher than the $97,916 average annual salary of a senior web developer.
The top three skills for a principal developer include java, apis and architecture. The most important skills for a senior web developer are javascript, web application, and CSS.
| Principal Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $126,772 | $97,916 |
| Hourly rate | $60.95 | $47.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 13% |
| Number of jobs | 303,930 | 239,535 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| 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 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.
Principal developers and senior web developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Average salary | $126,772 | $97,916 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $166,000 | Between $74,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Media |
There are a few differences between a principal developer and a senior web developer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal developers' and senior web developers' demographics:
| Principal Developer | Senior Web Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 81.5% Female, 18.5% |
| 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, 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% |