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The differences between electrical engineers and software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an electrical engineer, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, which is higher than the $81,026 average annual salary of an electrical engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical engineer include autocad, electrical systems and UL. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Electrical Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $81,026 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $38.95 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 68,536 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Electrical engineers are responsible for designing and developing new electrical systems, solving issues, and testing equipment. They work on various technologies, including telecommunication systems, satellite communications, and electrical power stations. Electrical engineers study and apply the mathematics and physics of electromagnetism, electronics, and electricity to small and large-scale electrical systems to transmit energy and process information. They often work with all types of electronic devices, such as supercomputers and power transmission. They also work in the emerging field of microelectronics.
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.
Electrical engineers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $81,026 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $109,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redmond, WA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an electrical engineer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between electrical engineers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 16.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 6% | 8% |