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The differences between data engineers and senior 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 a data engineer and a senior software development engineer. Additionally, a senior software development engineer has an average salary of $116,926, which is higher than the $109,675 average annual salary of a data engineer.
The top three skills for a data engineer include python, java and cloud. The most important skills for a senior software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Data Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $109,675 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $52.73 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 303,105 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A data engineer is someone who makes data science possible. This IT job requires the search for data set trends and algorithm development to make raw data more beneficial to the enterprise. Data engineers are responsible for establishing and maintaining an environment that permits other data functions. The necessary skills for the job include in-depth knowledge of multiple programming languages and SQL database design. Among the other skills data engineers should develop include data warehousing and architecture, data mining and modeling, and statistical regression analysis.
A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Data engineers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $109,675 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $149,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a data engineer and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Data Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between data engineers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Data Engineer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.5% Female, 18.5% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.1% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.6% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |