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The differences between computer 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 computer software engineer and a principal software engineer. Additionally, a principal software engineer has an average salary of $134,230, which is higher than the $102,511 average annual salary of a computer software engineer.
The top three skills for a computer software engineer include python, software development and java. The most important skills for a principal software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Computer Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,511 | $134,230 |
| Hourly rate | $49.28 | $64.53 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 326,143 | 345,893 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A computer software engineer designs, develops, and maintains computer systems and software using their knowledge of computer programming languages, engineering principles, and computer operating systems. As a computer software engineer, your duties will vary depending on your specialization but typically include reviewing and analyzing the client's needs and requirements, designing, developing, and testing the software application to ensure those needs are met, and creating algorithms to instruct the computer what to do. You are also expected to provide software upgrades recommendations for existing applications or systems.
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.
Computer software engineers and principal software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,511 | $134,230 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $134,000 | Between $98,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a computer software engineer and a principal software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Computer Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between computer software engineers' and principal software engineers' demographics:
| Computer Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% 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% |