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The differences between hardware development engineers and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a hardware development engineer, becoming a software developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a hardware development engineer has an average salary of $119,370, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a hardware development engineer include hardware development, analog and PCB. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $119,370 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $57.39 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 100,593 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A hardware development engineer carries out an analysis of the requirements of a needed product and tries to develop a prototype, taking into consideration the cost and specifications. You're also expected to work on already existing products and seek ways to modify them. You will be in charge of your team members and oversee all they do. Some of the hardware you may be required to design and test includes microprocessors, routers, keyboards, circuit boards, etc.
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.
Hardware development engineers and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $119,370 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $161,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a hardware development engineer and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between hardware development engineers' and software developers' demographics:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 50.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 4% | 8% |