Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between solution developers and 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 software developer. Additionally, a solution developer has an average salary of $89,276, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a solution developer include java, javascript and python. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Solution Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,276 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $42.92 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 252,265 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 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.
Solution developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Solution Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $89,276 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Palo Alto Networks | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a solution developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Solution Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between solution developers' and software developers' demographics:
| Solution Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| 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, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |