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The differences between software developers and data analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a software developer and a data analyst. Additionally, a software developer has an average salary of $87,521, which is higher than the $74,342 average annual salary of a data analyst.
The top three skills for a software developer include java, python and C++. The most important skills for a data analyst are data analysis, python, and power bi.
| Software Developer | Data Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $87,521 | $74,342 |
| Hourly rate | $42.08 | $35.74 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 294,329 | 167,520 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
Data analysts are responsible for interpreting the company's statistics and providing sound recommendations to the organization. They manage the organization's data sets, usually related to market performance, finance, or human resources. They are in charge of studying the available data, spotting trends, interpreting what the data and the trends mean, and recommending suggestions that will help the organization perform better. Their recommendations should also be relevant and backed up with strong analyses. Data analysts are expected to have a good grasp of the current market trends in the industry.
Software developers and data analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Developer | Data Analyst | |
| Average salary | $87,521 | $74,342 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $113,000 | Between $53,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software developer and a data analyst in terms of educational background:
| Software Developer | Data Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between software developers' and data analysts' demographics:
| Software Developer | Data Analyst | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |