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The differences between project developers and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a project developer and a software developer. Additionally, a project developer has an average salary of $89,766, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a project developer include project development, renewable energy and project management. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Project Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,766 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $43.16 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 303,850 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Project developers research aspects of each project to check that it follows all regulations and to complete the project on time and under the budget. They are responsible for overseeing various projects for their companies. They staff the project and make necessary purchases. Staffing could include hiring contractors and hiring new employees for the company. Their tasks are to report and resolve issues blocking work on project elements, develop project timeline and milestones with mitigation planning, and establish critical requirements of a project through stakeholder assessment.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Project developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $89,766 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $119,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Finance |
There are a few differences between a project developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Project Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between project developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Project Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |