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The differences between scientific programmers and applications 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 scientific programmer, becoming an applications developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an applications developer has an average salary of $89,205, which is higher than the $83,969 average annual salary of a scientific programmer.
The top three skills for a scientific programmer include python, visualization and linux. The most important skills for an applications developer are java, javascript, and C++.
| Scientific Programmer | Applications Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $83,969 | $89,205 |
| Hourly rate | $40.37 | $42.89 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 120,563 | 279,877 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
Scientific programmers are professionals who meet with scientists and researchers to determine and understand their program needs. By using their skills in scientific programming, these programmers must write programs from scratch or create by extensively customizing existing tools. They are required to work with senior programmers so that they can enhance their application development knowledge and skills. They must also assist in product testing with research students and collaborate with design engineers and production technicians when conducting system troubleshooting.
An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs. Duties of an application developer also include running diagnostic tests to ensure the application's performance and stability, providing instruction manuals for reference, performing troubleshooting for any inconsistencies, upgrading design codes for optimization, and launching the application following the client's timetable.
Scientific programmers and applications developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Scientific Programmer | Applications Developer | |
| Average salary | $83,969 | $89,205 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $122,000 | Between $67,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Tech Data | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a scientific programmer and an applications developer in terms of educational background:
| Scientific Programmer | Applications Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between scientific programmers' and applications developers' demographics:
| Scientific Programmer | Applications Developer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 19.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.4% 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% |