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The differences between firmware engineers and senior embedded software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a firmware engineer and a senior embedded software engineer. Additionally, a senior embedded software engineer has an average salary of $113,699, which is higher than the $97,183 average annual salary of a firmware engineer.
The top three skills for a firmware engineer include python, C and C++. The most important skills for a senior embedded software engineer are software development, python, and linux.
| Firmware Engineer | Senior Embedded Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,183 | $113,699 |
| Hourly rate | $46.72 | $54.66 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 99,014 | 207,872 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The job of firmware engineers focuses on the hardware from which the software runs. They play an important role in supporting the life cycle of products from its development to implementation. Their duties typically include testing the product properly and troubleshooting technical issues in collaboration with other engineering personnel, evaluating the performance of the system and ensuring that it adheres to the company's standards, and analyzing the design and needs of a system. Firmware engineers are also responsible for improvising the software as requested by clients.
A senior embedded software engineer is in charge of designing and developing software for embedded systems and equipment. In a company setting, their responsibilities include coordinating with different teams, identifying and meeting the company's needs, establishing guidelines for new systems, and implementing solutions in vulnerable areas for a smooth and efficient workflow. Furthermore, as a senior embedded software engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Firmware engineers and senior embedded software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Firmware Engineer | Senior Embedded Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,183 | $113,699 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $129,000 | Between $88,000 And $146,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Retail |
There are a few differences between a firmware engineer and a senior embedded software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Firmware Engineer | Senior Embedded Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between firmware engineers' and senior embedded software engineers' demographics:
| Firmware Engineer | Senior Embedded Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.6% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 30.5% White, 51.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |