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The differences between program developers and mainframe developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a program developer and a mainframe developer. Additionally, a mainframe developer has an average salary of $90,902, which is higher than the $74,749 average annual salary of a program developer.
The top three skills for a program developer include development programs, community outreach and project management. The most important skills for a mainframe developer are DB2, JCL, and CICS.
| Program Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,749 | $90,902 |
| Hourly rate | $35.94 | $43.70 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 128,488 | 255,034 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A software developer is mostly responsible for the development, implementation, and design of new or modified software products or current business projects. They typically work within the IT department of a company and will be involved in coordinating with the business analysts and development managers to guarantee software projects meet standard requirements. They do complex tasks from testing to evaluating new program design, modification of existing programs, and subsequently developing these modifications. In addition, deploying software tools, maintaining and upgrading existing systems are also part of their responsibilities.
A mainframe developer specializes in designing and developing information technology systems. Their responsibilities include performing system installations and modifications, creating test structures, gathering and analyzing data, conducting risk assessments, providing support for project requirements, and implementing plans such as disaster recovery and interface layout. They may also investigate client feedback, troubleshoot issues, and perform systems repairs as needed. Furthermore, as a mainframe developer, it is essential to maintain regular maintenance checks, providing technical support and guidelines to company employees.
Program developers and mainframe developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average salary | $74,749 | $90,902 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $118,000 | Between $70,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Washington |
| Best paying company | Western Digital | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a program developer and a mainframe developer in terms of educational background:
| Program Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between program developers' and mainframe developers' demographics:
| Program Developer | Mainframe Developer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 15.0% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 26.0% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |