Salaries

"How is this even possible?  It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.  First off, the two languages are officially a little over two years old.  At least with VB.NET, a lot of VB skills carry over... so you can claim more years of experience.  Also, VB.NET and C# are virtually identical in features and capabilities... targetting the same platform.  So how can anyone justify the difference in salary?  Am I the only one that doesn't understand this?"
[Cory Smith]

My guess would be that it isn't so much the language as it is the target audience. Remember, although VB can do just about anything C# can do, VB's target market is a lot different. VB targets a lot of mom and pop developers that just want to whip out some quick code, the morts. C# targets the old C++ or Java crowd (which still makes more money than the C# crowd) which is attracted to long and involved projects that demand more skill. So, it is understandable that the average C# developer's salary would be higher.

That said, there are a lot of very talented developers using both languages, so I am sure that there are developers on both ends making significantly more than those the averages. Talented developers are in demand, no matter what language they are using.

 

4 Comments

  • Do you really think the average C++ code subscribes to their magazine? I don't. The numbers are meaningless, because their sample is statistical nonsense.

  • I totally agree with the statement "mom and pop developers" and another good point is more out-of-schoolers pick VB because they took more classes in it and didnt understand pointers :). This could definately factor into the survey. I have been a c# developer for 2 years now and I wish my salary for $96k, but it is definately not so Cory, don't read into this salary poll to much.

  • By the way Jeff, I stole that statement from Allan Cooper, who--as we all know--is the guy who invented VB!

  • this statement "good point is more out-of-schoolers pick VB" has alot to do with the salaries given to VB developers, remember when MSCE was the thing to have? We'll every one I knew threw them selfs at this and got jobs quick and where happy. I did Java and other C type languages (Now as a hobby doing some D) and I have been working as a C# developer for almost as long as it has been out... so let us see, this is basic economics really supply and demand, I am one rare commodity, against 7 VB developers... who is more the VB guys there fore the companies have greater bargaining power... how many C#, one so it's me or no one... this will change because C# is the prefered MCSE language now... but what will happen now is C# guys with loads of experience will get the jobs over those who dont, again basic economics...



    So there is no point in going on about this, it is so because society says it is... if your not happy with it learn C, C++, C# or Java, btw I can do VB/VB.NET and the former so why can't VB guys learn C# to enrich their own salaries... :) (basically stop moaning about it and change it... be glad your not doing QBasic or Cobol)

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