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The differences between senior application specialists and senior leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior application specialist, becoming a senior leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior leader has an average salary of $114,328, which is higher than the $108,846 average annual salary of a senior application specialist.
The top three skills for a senior application specialist include project management, java and technical support. The most important skills for a senior leader are java, project management, and architecture.
| Senior Application Specialist | Senior Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $108,846 | $114,328 |
| Hourly rate | $52.33 | $54.97 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 121,655 | 214,805 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A senior application specialist works extensively in the software sector of their company. They alter or replace existing software to remove issues. They also work in a team with other developers to monitor devices and applications. They may have to develop user manuals for technical data.
A senior leader specializes in overseeing the business operations and work progress within a particular department or office. Focusing on the workflow and the workforce, they are in charge of assessing performances and motivating staff to meet goals and stay within the allotted time and budget. They may also participate in the hiring and training of new employees, utilizing their talents and shaping them into valuable members of the workforce, all while implementing company rules and regulations.
Senior application specialists and senior leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Application Specialist | Senior Leader | |
| Average salary | $108,846 | $114,328 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $137,000 | Between $80,000 And $162,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Vista Equity Partners | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior application specialist and a senior leader in terms of educational background:
| Senior Application Specialist | Senior Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior application specialists' and senior leaders' demographics:
| Senior Application Specialist | Senior Leader | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.3% Female, 39.7% | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 13.3% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |