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Web developer vs applications developer

The differences between web developers and applications 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 web developer and an applications developer. Additionally, an applications developer has an average salary of $89,205, which is higher than the $78,975 average annual salary of a web developer.

The top three skills for a web developer include javascript, html css and HTML. The most important skills for an applications developer are java, javascript, and C++.

Web developer vs applications developer overview

Web DeveloperApplications Developer
Yearly salary$78,975$89,205
Hourly rate$37.97$42.89
Growth rate13%21%
Number of jobs227,881279,877
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age3739
Years of experience44

What does a web developer do?

A web developer is responsible for designing and maintaining a website to attract customers and direct web traffic. Web developers' duty also includes analyzing software and database to develop new applications. A web developer must have extensive knowledge of programming languages and technology solutions to provide the best web design services for the clients, following their specifications, and submitting projects on or before the deadline. Web developers should have excellent time-management and decision-making skills to do tasks efficiently and accurately.

What does an applications developer do?

An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs. Duties of an application developer also include running diagnostic tests to ensure the application's performance and stability, providing instruction manuals for reference, performing troubleshooting for any inconsistencies, upgrading design codes for optimization, and launching the application following the client's timetable.

Web developer vs applications developer salary

Web developers and applications developers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Web DeveloperApplications Developer
Average salary$78,975$89,205
Salary rangeBetween $60,000 And $103,000Between $67,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CityBothell, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyGoogleMeta
Best paying industryProfessionalFinance

Differences between web developer and applications developer education

There are a few differences between a web developer and an applications developer in terms of educational background:

Web DeveloperApplications Developer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Web developer vs applications developer demographics

Here are the differences between web developers' and applications developers' demographics:

Web DeveloperApplications Developer
Average age3739
Gender ratioMale, 78.2% Female, 21.8%Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 15.9% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%8%

Differences between web developer and applications developer duties and responsibilities

Web developer example responsibilities.

  • Lead front-end design and creation.
  • Manage high transaction databases including all database objects, triggers, procedures, user rights and functions.
  • Manage social media including Facebook advertising.
  • Interact with java controllers (JQUERY, AJAX, and JSON to write/read data from back end systems).
  • Used JSP, HTML, CSS and JavaScript to render the dynamic web pages (presentation layer) for the application.
  • Re-Design, update and maintain LinkWorth's WordPress plug-in using PHP and XML files to import data from LinkWorth's servers.
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Applications developer example responsibilities.

  • Used to update issue tracker and manage code using version control system git.
  • Create UNIX shell scripts to automate the FTP process, handling of data discards, data errors, compliance errors etc.
  • Manage complete SDLC for development projects including gathering and determining business requirements.
  • Used AngularJS HTTP request to read data from web services and process JSON data to render in the UI.
  • Develop interfaces using JavaScript, HTML technologies for several web applications to fetch and graphically present require data from database.
  • Core service uses the main database and the other Microservices use their individual databases to access and store data.
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Web developer vs applications developer skills

Common web developer skills
  • JavaScript, 8%
  • Html Css, 6%
  • HTML, 5%
  • CSS, 5%
  • Web Forms, 4%
  • JQuery, 4%
Common applications developer skills
  • Java, 11%
  • JavaScript, 7%
  • C++, 6%
  • QA, 4%
  • Database, 4%
  • HTML, 4%

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