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The differences between geospatial engineers and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a geospatial engineer and a software developer. Additionally, a geospatial engineer has an average salary of $92,650, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a geospatial engineer include disaster relief, intelligence data and digital data. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Geospatial Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,650 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $44.54 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 178,326 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Geospatial engineers are known to be recent additions to the engineering family. Their tasks include producing up to date plans, computer-based measuring to map the best position, and providing control point to monitor the future movements of structures like a bridge. They specialize in photogrammetry and remote sensing. They perform basic geographic information systems on navigational data and coastal areas, collect and organize digital features in the geospatial database, and provide imagery and geospatial products to support multiple joint military operations.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Geospatial engineers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geospatial Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $92,650 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $132,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a geospatial engineer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Geospatial Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Geography | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Dartmouth College | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between geospatial engineers' and software developers' demographics:
| Geospatial Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 26.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |