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The differences between embedded systems engineers and associate 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 embedded systems engineer, becoming an associate software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an embedded systems engineer has an average salary of $91,959, which is higher than the $78,981 average annual salary of an associate software engineer.
The top three skills for an embedded systems engineer include embedded systems, python and software development. The most important skills for an associate software engineer are java, python, and C++.
| Embedded Systems Engineer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,959 | $78,981 |
| Hourly rate | $44.21 | $37.97 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 77,484 | 298,481 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An embedded systems engineer is responsible for monitoring and creating embedded network systems and servers to support business operations. Embedded systems engineers run multiple diagnostic tests to identify technical solutions that would increase the efficiency and stability of the systems. They must have excellent technical skills for network resolution, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to write scripts and generate support for data integration. An embedded systems engineer updates infrastructure to boost optimization and identify opportunities for enhancing engineering techniques.
An associate software engineer is an individual who is responsible for improving existing software or designing new application software. Working under the supervision of a senior software engineer and together with a team of engineering professionals, associate software engineers must be able to code software and ensure that it can run with different types of technology. They must have the technical knowledge and expertise of commanding programming languages such as JAVA, HTML, and CSS. Associate software engineers are also required to assist the QA team in testing the software before it is released to the customers.
Embedded systems engineers and associate software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Embedded Systems Engineer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $91,959 | $78,981 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $120,000 | Between $60,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between an embedded systems engineer and an associate software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Embedded Systems Engineer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between embedded systems engineers' and associate software engineers' demographics:
| Embedded Systems Engineer | Associate Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% | Male, 67.3% Female, 32.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 30.6% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 39.6% White, 43.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |