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Software developer vs java developer

The differences between software developers and java 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 software developer and a java developer. Additionally, a java developer has an average salary of $88,475, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.

The top three skills for a software developer include java, python and C++. The most important skills for a java developer are java, spring boot, and database.

Software developer vs java developer overview

Software DeveloperJava Developer
Yearly salary$87,521$88,475
Hourly rate$42.08$42.54
Growth rate21%13%
Number of jobs294,329147,521
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age3937
Years of experience44

What does a software developer do?

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.

What does a java developer do?

A Java developer is responsible for developing Java-based applications, including its strong efficiency and smooth operations for the clients and business' use. Java developers implement application designs, diagnosing ineffective processes, and conducting troubleshooting. A Java developer must ensure the stability of the application before launch to provide the best user experience. Software developers must have an excellent command of programming languages, software analysis, system codes, and other technical specifications. A software developer maintains a record of the processes and issues resolutions for reference and improvement opportunities.

Software developer vs java developer salary

Software developers and java developers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Software DeveloperJava Developer
Average salary$87,521$88,475
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $113,000Between $68,000 And $114,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASunnyvale, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyThe CitadelMeta
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between software developer and java developer education

There are a few differences between a software developer and a java developer in terms of educational background:

Software DeveloperJava Developer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Software developer vs java developer demographics

Here are the differences between software developers' and java developers' demographics:

Software DeveloperJava Developer
Average age3937
Gender ratioMale, 79.3% Female, 20.7%Male, 72.6% Female, 27.4%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 15.7% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between software developer and java developer duties and responsibilities

Software developer example responsibilities.

  • Restructure the project code in repository and use maven to manage project dependencies.
  • Used JIRA to manage and track the issues report by QA and prioritize and take action base on the severity.
  • Develop the front-end web page by using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, taking advantage of the frameworks Angular.JS.
  • Lead team and develop UNIX administrative and maintenance development tasks, supporting customer requirements.
  • Configure custom PL/SQL database to manage new database objects including triggers, user-define functions and store procedures.
  • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
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Java developer example responsibilities.

  • Involve in creating an ant task to automate the above process.
  • Manage connectivity using JDBC for querying/inserting & data management including triggers and store procedures.
  • Manage maven environment by setting up local, remote and central repositories with require configuration in maven configuration files.
  • Develop UI using JavaScript, JSP, HTML and CSS for interactive cross browser functionality and complex user interface.
  • Experience in Java coding for JSON access in the eclipse IDE and saving the data in the database.
  • Design UI using JSP and HTML and validate with JavaScript for providing the user interface and communication between client and server.
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Software developer vs java developer skills

Common software developer skills
  • Java, 11%
  • Python, 9%
  • C++, 7%
  • Software Development, 6%
  • JavaScript, 5%
  • Database, 5%
Common java developer skills
  • Java, 17%
  • Spring Boot, 5%
  • Database, 4%
  • Web Application, 3%
  • HTML, 3%
  • CSS, 3%

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