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The differences between user interface 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 user interface developer and a software developer. Additionally, a software developer has an average salary of $87,521, which is higher than the $69,061 average annual salary of a user interface developer.
The top three skills for a user interface developer include javascript, user experience and C #. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| User Interface Developer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,061 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $33.20 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 13% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 162,155 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A user interface (UI) developer is a computer system professional who combines programming, psychology, and creative design to create intuitive controls for software and hardware. UI developers must develop the user interface and navigation for the whole web application using technologies like HTML, XML, and CSS2. They are required to attend daily software development meetings to discuss the design and work progress. UI developers must also create computer-generated images and animations using CGI for digital marketing web applications.
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.
User interface developers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| User Interface Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $69,061 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $84,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a user interface developer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| User Interface Developer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between user interface developers' and software developers' demographics:
| User Interface Developer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.7% Female, 27.3% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 15.8% White, 58.9% 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 | 9% | 8% |