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The differences between front end developers and software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a front end developer and a software engineer. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, which is higher than the $92,147 average annual salary of a front end developer.
The top three skills for a front end developer include javascript, front-end and html css. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Front End Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,147 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $44.30 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 13% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 124,876 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Front-end developers architect and develop applications and websites through web technologies. They are responsible for the implementation of visual elements that every user sees and interacts with on web applications. They are often supported by the back-end web developers who are in charge of server application logic and integration. They must know CSS or HTML. They should be equipped with CSS processing skills, browser developer tools, version control, JavaScript framework, and responsive design skills.
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.
Front end developers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Front End Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,147 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $124,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lifetime | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a front end developer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Front End Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between front end developers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Front End Developer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 15.8% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |