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The differences between software applications designers and software programmers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a software applications designer, becoming a software programmer takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a software applications designer has an average salary of $81,614, which is higher than the $71,612 average annual salary of a software programmer.
The top three skills for a software applications designer include functional specifications, java and DB2. The most important skills for a software programmer are java, javascript, and software development.
| Software Applications Designer | Software Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $81,614 | $71,612 |
| Hourly rate | $39.24 | $34.43 |
| Growth rate | 21% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 228,722 | 253,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
Software applications designers and software programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Applications Designer | Software Programmer | |
| Average salary | $81,614 | $71,612 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $122,000 | Between $55,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Middletown, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | AIG | Panaya |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software applications designer and a software programmer in terms of educational background:
| Software Applications Designer | Software Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between software applications designers' and software programmers' demographics:
| Software Applications Designer | Software Programmer | |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.7% Female, 24.3% | Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 25.2% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |