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The differences between computer scientists and 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 computer scientist and a software engineer. Additionally, a computer scientist has an average salary of $103,238, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for a computer scientist include python, computer system and machine learning. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Computer Scientist | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $103,238 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $49.63 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 59,802 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A computer scientist is responsible for analyzing network infrastructure and designing efficient computer systems according to clients' specifications and business functions. Computer scientists inspect the safety and security of the organization's database, ensuring its protection from malicious activities and unauthorized access. They also manage a large scale of software applications, identifying technical opportunities to improve optimal performance and navigations. A computer scientist must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, strong command on programming languages and system codes, and the ability to solve technical complexities for conceptualization.
A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Computer scientists and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Scientist | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $103,238 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $144,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a computer scientist and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Computer Scientist | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between computer scientists' and software engineers' demographics:
| Computer Scientist | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 18.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |