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The differences between advanced software engineers 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 an advanced software engineer and a software developer. Additionally, an advanced software engineer has an average salary of $101,121, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for an advanced software engineer include java, python and linux. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,121 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $48.62 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 263,252 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An advanced software engineer plans, designs, and develops software according to customers' requirements. They work with a company's IT branch. A software engineer's responsibility is to ensure that an application, software, or program is free from bugs, has a user-friendly user interface, and performs what it is programmed to do. They are also responsible for updates and troubleshooting after software is released.
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.
Advanced software engineers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $101,121 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $126,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between an advanced software engineer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | 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 advanced software engineers' and software developers' demographics:
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 31.4% White, 50.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 8% | 8% |