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The differences between senior developer analysts and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior developer analyst, becoming a software developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior developer analyst has an average salary of $96,151, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a senior developer analyst include java, C++ and C #. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Senior Developer Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,151 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $46.23 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 156,482 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A senior developer analyst specializes in software development and analysis. It is their duty to design and develop systems and applications according to the company's needs, perform research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current systems, come up with solutions in problem areas, and perform risk assessments. They may also perform installations and modifications, review data, and conduct regular maintenance checks, execute repairs as needed. Furthermore, as a senior developer analyst, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while enforcing the company's security protocols and regulations.
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.
Senior developer analysts and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Developer Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $96,151 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $126,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Baker McKenzie | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior developer analyst and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Developer Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | 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 senior developer analysts' and software developers' demographics:
| Senior Developer Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 21.4% White, 53.2% 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% |