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The differences between sap/abap developers and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a sap/abap developer, becoming a software developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a sap/abap developer has an average salary of $104,432, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a sap/abap developer include java, sap abap and sap hana. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Sap/Abap Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,432 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $50.21 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 92,478 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
An SAP/ABAP developer is responsible for designing and creating software programs and applications through the SAP and ABAP programming codes. They conduct multiple diagnostic tests for newly-created and existing applications to ensure adherence to quality standards and requirements. They also provide technical resolution to end-users for their system issues and upgrade infrastructure to prevent the reoccurrence of downtimes and system failures. An SAP/ABAP developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in evaluating features for smooth navigation and operations.
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.
Sap/abap developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sap/Abap Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $104,432 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $79,000 And $137,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Zulily | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a sap/abap developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Sap/Abap Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between sap/abap developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Sap/Abap Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.4% Female, 26.6% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 25.3% White, 58.8% 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 | 11% | 8% |