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The differences between database engineers and senior 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 database engineer and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $104,648 average annual salary of a database engineer.
The top three skills for a database engineer include python, troubleshoot and java. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Database Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,648 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $50.31 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 152,951 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A database engineer is responsible for maintaining the security of an organization's network databases, preventing unauthorized access and activities, and upgrading data infrastructure. Database engineers manage the volume of stored data, ensuring that the information would not affect the traffic flow and navigation. They also design database according to business requirements and needs, conducting multiple quality checks before releasing the final outputs for high functionality. A database engineer must have excellent technical skills, as well as extensive knowledge of programming languages and database administration, to create efficient system networks.
Senior software engineers are experienced employees who would usually take the lead in projects related to software development. They are in charge of determining the needs of the organization, checking whether there are feasible solutions to challenges, and creating plans for the development of a software solution. They provide a sound analysis of data collected during the testing phase of the software and address any problems during the software development phase. Once the software has been developed, they then ensure that it works well and that it addresses the needs and expectations of the users.
Database engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Database Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $104,648 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $150,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a database engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Database Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between database engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Database Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 22.8% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |