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The differences between programmers and applications 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 programmer and an applications programmer. Additionally, an applications programmer has an average salary of $85,133, which is higher than the $73,007 average annual salary of a programmer.
The top three skills for a programmer include java, javascript and CSS. The most important skills for an applications programmer are java, C++, and database.
| Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,007 | $85,133 |
| Hourly rate | $35.10 | $40.93 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 234,565 | 215,240 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
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.
An application programmer is responsible for creating and designing computer systems and applications according to client specifications and business requirements. Application programmers run quality checks on the draft outputs to ensure its stability and efficiency for high-level performance. They also evaluate existing applications and recommend technical solutions to improve scalability. An application programmer must have excellent technical skills with a strong command of programming languages and system codes to determine the feasibility of applications and adjust features as needed.
Programmers and applications programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Average salary | $73,007 | $85,133 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $98,000 | Between $64,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Dropbox |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a programmer and an applications programmer in terms of educational background:
| Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between programmers' and applications programmers' demographics:
| Programmer | Applications Programmer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 16.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |