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The differences between engineering managers and software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become an engineering manager, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for an engineering manager include java, project management and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Engineering Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $139,328 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $66.98 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 67,124 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
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.
Engineering managers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $139,328 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $195,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Mixpanel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an engineering manager and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between engineering managers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% 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 | 9% | 8% |