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The differences between user interface developers and user interface designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a user interface developer, becoming a user interface designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a user interface designer has an average salary of $92,247, 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 user interface designer are invision, interactive prototypes, and UI.
| User Interface Developer | User Interface Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,061 | $92,247 |
| Hourly rate | $33.20 | $44.35 |
| Growth rate | 13% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 162,155 | 51,375 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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 user interface designer specializes in designing and developing the interface of websites and web applications, aiming to optimize the user experience. Among their responsibilities include liaising with clients to identify and understand their needs and preferences, conceptualizing plans and storyboards, creating web and visual elements, and performing research and analysis to determine the best practices. A user interface designer typically works with a team of designers and developers, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
User interface developers and user interface designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| User Interface Developer | User Interface Designer | |
| Average salary | $69,061 | $92,247 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $84,000 | Between $64,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a user interface developer and a user interface designer in terms of educational background:
| User Interface Developer | User Interface Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between user interface developers' and user interface designers' demographics:
| User Interface Developer | User Interface Designer | |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.7% Female, 27.3% | Male, 65.2% Female, 34.8% |
| 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, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 13% |