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The differences between engineering programmers and software programmers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both an engineering programmer and a software programmer. Additionally, an engineering programmer has an average salary of $95,776, which is higher than the $71,612 average annual salary of a software programmer.
The top three skills for an engineering programmer include C++, troubleshoot and PC. The most important skills for a software programmer are java, javascript, and software development.
| Engineering Programmer | Software Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $95,776 | $71,612 |
| Hourly rate | $46.05 | $34.43 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 245,309 | 253,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
Running programs on a computer is tough to understand, so an engineering programmer's expertise is needed. They often work alongside software programmers to improve their works, apply their creations and run them on the computer. They assist computer programmers in creating a software program to locate, store, secure, and retrieve data and design software solutions for future computer difficulties. In a company, they can be part of the team that handles customer complaints online and run software to work with it, or they can provide software that oversees staffs' work ethics.
A software programmer is an information technology expert who specializes in programming software and generating codes, ensuring quality and efficiency. In a company setting, they typically perform research and analysis to understand and identify the projects' needs, develop and implement test structures, troubleshoot and resolve issues, write technical instructions, and provide technical support to staff as needed. Most of the time, a software programmer works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth workflow.
Engineering programmers and software programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Programmer | Software Programmer | |
| Average salary | $95,776 | $71,612 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $138,000 | Between $55,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Panaya |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an engineering programmer and a software programmer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Programmer | Software Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between engineering programmers' and software programmers' demographics:
| Engineering Programmer | Software Programmer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 14.9% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 25.2% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |