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The differences between automation engineers and software development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an automation engineer and a software development engineer. Additionally, a software development engineer has an average salary of $109,147, which is higher than the $92,597 average annual salary of an automation engineer.
The top three skills for an automation engineer include python, java and PLC. The most important skills for a software development engineer are java, software development, and AWS.
| Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,597 | $109,147 |
| Hourly rate | $44.52 | $52.47 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 133,941 | 356,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An automation engineer takes charge of developing detailed design specifications and any other documents. Automation engineers develop automation software that is based on certain requirements for the involved process. They conform to local standards, international standards, and other process-oriented guidelines. Their duties also include the simulation and testing of automated machinery and processes. The must-have skills for this position include configuration software experience, scripting and coding expertise, certifications, and in-depth knowledge of technology.
A software development engineer is responsible for designing and developing software systems and applications based on clients' specifications and business needs. Software development engineers manage operating systems and analyze network codes to maintain the compatibility of the software applications and control systems. They also run diagnostic tests for every software structure to ensure smooth navigations and perform immediate troubleshooting for inconsistencies. A software development engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, as well as technological processes and analytical skills.
Automation engineers and software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,597 | $109,147 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $121,000 | Between $80,000 And $147,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between an automation engineer and a software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between automation engineers' and software development engineers' demographics:
| Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 32.7% White, 49.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |