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The differences between computer support engineers and software support engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a computer support engineer, becoming a software support engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software support engineer has an average salary of $87,968, which is higher than the $79,531 average annual salary of a computer support engineer.
The top three skills for a computer support engineer include CAD, PCB and linux. The most important skills for a software support engineer are java, software support, and customer service.
| Computer Support Engineer | Software Support Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,531 | $87,968 |
| Hourly rate | $38.24 | $42.29 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 122,786 | 364,072 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Computer support engineers and software support engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Support Engineer | Software Support Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,531 | $87,968 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $106,000 | Between $67,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer support engineer and a software support engineer in terms of educational background:
| Computer Support Engineer | Software Support Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between computer support engineers' and software support engineers' demographics:
| Computer Support Engineer | Software Support Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 14.7% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |