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The differences between program developers and program administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a program developer, becoming a program administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a program developer has an average salary of $74,749, which is higher than the $50,715 average annual salary of a program administrator.
The top three skills for a program developer include development programs, community outreach and project management. The most important skills for a program administrator are customer service, oversight, and patients.
| Program Developer | Program Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $74,749 | $50,715 |
| Hourly rate | $35.94 | $24.38 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 128,488 | 119,898 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
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.
Program administrators are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating their organization's program or service. Their duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the industry they work at, such as educational, community, and social services. Among these duties are selecting and supervising the staff to manage a certain program or project, managing the program's budget, and evaluating the success of a program. To become successful in this role, a program administrator must have in-depth knowledge of project management disciplines, leadership skills, and decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Program developers and program administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Developer | Program Administrator | |
| Average salary | $74,749 | $50,715 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $118,000 | Between $34,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Western Digital | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a program developer and a program administrator in terms of educational background:
| Program Developer | Program Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between program developers' and program administrators' demographics:
| Program Developer | Program Administrator | |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |