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The differences between infrastructure technicians and software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an infrastructure technician, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, which is higher than the $96,543 average annual salary of an infrastructure technician.
The top three skills for an infrastructure technician include troubleshoot, structured cabling and technical support. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
In the information technology (IT) industry, an infrastructure technician is an IT expert responsible for the maintenance and installation of computer systems and networks. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, troubleshooting problems, performing adjustments and modifications, developing test structures, eliminating bugs, and maintaining documentation. There are also instances where they participate in designing and developing network software and hardware, liaising with clients, and overseeing IT operations. Moreover, an infrastructure technician must provide technical support and guidance to staff, all while enforcing the security and quality standards of the company.
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.
Infrastructure technicians and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Infrastructure Technician | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,543 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $148,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Yelp | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | - | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an infrastructure technician and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Infrastructure Technician | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Information Systems | Computer Science |
| Most common college | - | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between infrastructure technicians' and software engineers' demographics:
| Infrastructure Technician | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 10.6% White, 57.1% 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 | 11% | 8% |