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The differences between application engineers and senior applications engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an application engineer and a senior applications engineer. Additionally, a senior applications engineer has an average salary of $107,989, which is higher than the $92,921 average annual salary of an application engineer.
The top three skills for an application engineer include technical support, java and C++. The most important skills for a senior applications engineer are java, C++, and database.
| Application Engineer | Senior Applications Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,921 | $107,989 |
| Hourly rate | $44.67 | $51.92 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 111,338 | 274,466 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs. They also generate ideas and locate other business opportunities by analyzing current trends in the technology market that would help build revenues and increase profitability for the company. An application engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, software application processes, and general technology disciplines.
A senior applications engineer specializes in designing and developing a variety of applications and systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around utilizing feedback and client needs when making decisions, creating test structures for applications, performing installment and repairs, troubleshooting, and performing regular maintenance checks and upgrades. Furthermore, as a senior applications engineer, it is essential to lead and encourage the engineering team to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Application engineers and senior applications engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Application Engineer | Senior Applications Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,921 | $107,989 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $84,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Morgan Lewis | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Insurance |
There are a few differences between an application engineer and a senior applications engineer in terms of educational background:
| Application Engineer | Senior Applications Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between application engineers' and senior applications engineers' demographics:
| Application Engineer | Senior Applications Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 11.5% White, 74.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 5% |