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The differences between web programmers 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 web programmer and a software developer. Additionally, a software developer has an average salary of $87,521, which is higher than the $72,168 average annual salary of a web programmer.
The top three skills for a web programmer include javascript, HTML and database. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Web Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $72,168 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $34.70 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 13% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 104,212 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Also called web engineers or developers, web programmers create web applications. Their job focuses on the non-design factors of web development such as markup writing and coding. They design and come up with websites and take responsibility for their looks. It is their job to oversee the technical aspects of the websites including their capacity and performance. Sometimes, they need to show clients or employers a website prototype to better understand the finished product.
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.
Web programmers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Web Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $72,168 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $97,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Finance |
There are a few differences between a web programmer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Web Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between web programmers' and software developers' demographics:
| Web Programmer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.8% Female, 19.2% | 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% |