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The differences between software computer specialists and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a software computer specialist, becoming a software developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software computer specialist has an average salary of $96,088, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a software computer specialist include linux, data entry and computer software. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Software Computer Specialist | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,088 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $46.20 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 80,734 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Software computer specialists and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Computer Specialist | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $96,088 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $132,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software computer specialist and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Software Computer Specialist | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software computer specialists' and software developers' demographics:
| Software Computer Specialist | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 11% | 8% |