Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between knowledge engineers and software engineers-consultant can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a knowledge engineer, becoming a software engineer-consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software engineer-consultant has an average salary of $113,987, which is higher than the $83,626 average annual salary of a knowledge engineer.
The top three skills for a knowledge engineer include python, sharepoint and javascript. The most important skills for a software engineer-consultant are java, python, and architecture.
| Knowledge Engineer | Software Engineer-Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $83,626 | $113,987 |
| Hourly rate | $40.20 | $54.80 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 254,168 | 317,033 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A Knowledge Engineer specializes in designing and developing computer systems that facilitate human knowledge and thought processes. Their responsibilities often revolve around understanding the client or the company's needs, conducting extensive research and analysis, conceptualizing plans, coordinating with fellow experts, building prototypes and test structures, troubleshooting problems, and developing solutions against problem areas. Knowledge Engineers manage staff and oversee their performance, all while implementing its policies and regulations.
A software engineer consultant develops and recommends strategies to optimize a company's software engineering operations. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis to find new opportunities, performing software evaluations and risk assessments, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, and developing solutions against problem areas. Through the findings of their research, a software engineer consultant draws conclusions and recommendations that will help the company to reach their short and long-term goals and resolve issues or concerns.
Knowledge engineers and software engineers-consultant have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Knowledge Engineer | Software Engineer-Consultant | |
| Average salary | $83,626 | $113,987 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $85,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Foster City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Advent Software |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a knowledge engineer and a software engineer-consultant in terms of educational background:
| Knowledge Engineer | Software Engineer-Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between knowledge engineers' and software engineers-consultant' demographics:
| Knowledge Engineer | Software Engineer-Consultant | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2% | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |