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The differences between program developers and programmers 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 programmer. Additionally, a program developer has an average salary of $74,749, which is higher than the $73,007 average annual salary of a programmer.
The top three skills for a program developer include development programs, community outreach and project management. The most important skills for a programmer are java, javascript, and CSS.
| Program Developer | Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,749 | $73,007 |
| Hourly rate | $35.94 | $35.10 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 128,488 | 234,565 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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.
Computer programmers provide assistance and services concerning computer applications and software programs. A computer programmer must be highly-knowledgeable on programming languages and operating systems to create projects and fix any malfunctions under minimal supervision. Computer programmers must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to analyze data and request assistance from a senior programmer as needed. They must also be keen on details to oversee possible faulty codes, troubleshooting problems, and upgrading systems to ensure that the program will perform smoothly and efficiently.
Program developers and programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Developer | Programmer | |
| Average salary | $74,749 | $73,007 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $118,000 | Between $54,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Bothell, WA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Washington |
| Best paying company | Western Digital | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a program developer and a programmer in terms of educational background:
| Program Developer | Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between program developers' and programmers' demographics:
| Program Developer | Programmer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 17.8% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |