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The differences between solution developers and lead 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 solution developer and a lead software developer. Additionally, a lead software developer has an average salary of $115,072, which is higher than the $89,276 average annual salary of a solution developer.
The top three skills for a solution developer include java, javascript and python. The most important skills for a lead software developer are java, architecture, and application development.
| Solution Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,276 | $115,072 |
| Hourly rate | $42.92 | $55.32 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 252,265 | 309,029 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Solutions Developers are information technology (IT) professionals who primarily work with clients. They address the needs of clients by creating programs, software, or network infrastructure. Solutions Developers should know their clients and the context of the clients' needs. They help their clients achieve their goals by creating IT solutions. They also ensure that the programs they create would encompass all the needs of the clients. Companies that hire Solutions Developers usually have a preset of programs or software. It is up to the Solutions Developers to personalize the software to suit their clients' requirements.
A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface. They also coordinate with the design engineers to modify and improve the features of existing software applications for optimal performance. A lead software developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in considering the current technology trends to meet demands.
Solution developers and lead software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Solution Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $89,276 | $115,072 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $87,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Palo Alto Networks | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a solution developer and a lead software developer in terms of educational background:
| Solution Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between solution developers' and lead software developers' demographics:
| Solution Developer | Lead Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |