Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between bioinformatics software engineers and principal software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a bioinformatics software engineer and a principal software engineer. Additionally, a principal software engineer has an average salary of $134,230, which is higher than the $99,311 average annual salary of a bioinformatics software engineer.
The top three skills for a bioinformatics software engineer include python, java and next-generation sequencing. The most important skills for a principal software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Bioinformatics Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,311 | $134,230 |
| Hourly rate | $47.75 | $64.53 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 237,713 | 345,893 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A bioinformatics software engineer specializes in designing and developing software that facilitates procedures leading to breakthroughs in science. Their responsibilities include conducting extensive research and analysis, writing codes, developing prototypes and test structures, identifying and eliminating bugs, troubleshooting problems, performing upgrades, and maintaining records of all procedures. They also establish guidelines and protocols, guiding staff as necessary. Moreover, as a bioinformatics software engineer, it is essential to oversee staff progress while implementing policies and standards for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization's projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.
Bioinformatics software engineers and principal software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bioinformatics Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,311 | $134,230 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $136,000 | Between $98,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Retail |
There are a few differences between a bioinformatics software engineer and a principal software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Bioinformatics Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Biostatistics | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between bioinformatics software engineers' and principal software engineers' demographics:
| Bioinformatics Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% Asian, 31.3% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.4% 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% |