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The differences between firmware developers and software development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a firmware developer, becoming a software development engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software development engineer has an average salary of $109,147, which is higher than the $87,481 average annual salary of a firmware developer.
The top three skills for a firmware developer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for a software development engineer are java, software development, and AWS.
| Firmware Developer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,481 | $109,147 |
| Hourly rate | $42.06 | $52.47 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 78,552 | 356,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A firmware developer mainly develops firmware and designs hardware for online supervision systems and protocol converters. Firmware developers lead workflow resolution and automate the process by routing information to queues for flexible management of exceptions. They create test programs based on technology for maximum processor and firmware processor and memory. It is their job to implement features such as one-touch power windows, audio tones, and wipers. They also create client configuration, statistics, control, and general management functions.
A software development engineer is responsible for designing and developing software systems and applications based on clients' specifications and business needs. Software development engineers manage operating systems and analyze network codes to maintain the compatibility of the software applications and control systems. They also run diagnostic tests for every software structure to ensure smooth navigations and perform immediate troubleshooting for inconsistencies. A software development engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, as well as technological processes and analytical skills.
Firmware developers and software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Firmware Developer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,481 | $109,147 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $117,000 | Between $80,000 And $147,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Technology |
There are a few differences between a firmware developer and a software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Firmware Developer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between firmware developers' and software development engineers' demographics:
| Firmware Developer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 32.7% White, 49.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |