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The differences between senior information technology 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 senior information technology developer and a software developer. Additionally, a senior information technology developer has an average salary of $108,906, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a senior information technology developer include java, software development and spring boot. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Senior Information Technology Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $108,906 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $52.36 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 334,136 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Senior information technology (IT) developers are IT management professionals who are responsible for writing code and contribute to the design and implementation of software programs. These developers must collaborate with department managers to plan the layout and set up custom department sites while compiling departmental information. They must nurture a team of talented professionals to further accelerate application development, support maintenance, and product evolution. Senior IT developers must also use web services to implement automation of the business process and reduce redundancy.
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 information technology developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Information Technology Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $108,906 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $140,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Zendesk | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior information technology developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Information Technology Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior information technology developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Senior Information Technology Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% 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% |