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The differences between programmers and data analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a programmer, becoming a data analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a data analyst has an average salary of $74,342, 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 a data analyst are data analysis, python, and power bi.
| Programmer | Data Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $73,007 | $74,342 |
| Hourly rate | $35.10 | $35.74 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 234,565 | 167,520 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
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.
Data analysts are responsible for interpreting the company's statistics and providing sound recommendations to the organization. They manage the organization's data sets, usually related to market performance, finance, or human resources. They are in charge of studying the available data, spotting trends, interpreting what the data and the trends mean, and recommending suggestions that will help the organization perform better. Their recommendations should also be relevant and backed up with strong analyses. Data analysts are expected to have a good grasp of the current market trends in the industry.
Programmers and data analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Programmer | Data Analyst | |
| Average salary | $73,007 | $74,342 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $98,000 | Between $53,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a programmer and a data analyst in terms of educational background:
| Programmer | Data Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between programmers' and data analysts' demographics:
| Programmer | Data Analyst | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% |
| 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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |