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The differences between junior software engineers and senior 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 junior software engineer and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $77,904 average annual salary of a junior software engineer.
The top three skills for a junior software engineer include java, C++ and python. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Junior Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,904 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $37.45 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 288,448 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The role of junior software engineers is to aid and support with software design and computer coding. As a software developer, you are expected to attend and contribute to company meetings, learn the codebase and improve your coding skills, and monitor the technical performance of systems. Other duties include responding to the development team's requests, preparing reports, and performing development tests. Most employers prefer to hire someone with a bachelor's degree in computer science, in-depth knowledge of coding languages such as JavaScript and HTML5, and previous work experience.
Senior software engineers are experienced employees who would usually take the lead in projects related to software development. They are in charge of determining the needs of the organization, checking whether there are feasible solutions to challenges, and creating plans for the development of a software solution. They provide a sound analysis of data collected during the testing phase of the software and address any problems during the software development phase. Once the software has been developed, they then ensure that it works well and that it addresses the needs and expectations of the users.
Junior software engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,904 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $101,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a junior software engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between junior software engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Junior Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |