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The differences between engine development technicians and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an engine development technician and a software developer. Additionally, an engine development technician has an average salary of $113,674, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for an engine development technician include C++, C # and python. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Engine Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $113,674 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $54.65 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 144,468 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Engine Development Technician works with heavy equipment. These technicians need to meet the emissions and economy requirements and creating durability challenges. They also diagnose the engine's problems and, using their technical knowledge on how to repair or mend the issues that arise. They also carry out routine checks and test the equipment to ensure it's working. Engine development technicians must have customer service skills, be detail-oriented, have adequate knowledge of the equipment's mechanics, troubleshooting skills, and dexterity.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Engine development technicians and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engine Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $113,674 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $142,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between an engine development technician and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Engine Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between engine development technicians' and software developers' demographics:
| Engine Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.5% Female, 14.5% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |