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The differences between lead application engineers and engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a lead application engineer, becoming an engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $111,059 average annual salary of a lead application engineer.
The top three skills for a lead application engineer include java, C++ and infrastructure. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.
| Lead Application Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $111,059 | $139,328 |
| Hourly rate | $53.39 | $66.98 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 186,619 | 67,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
An Application Engineers is responsible for monitoring and ensuring that all the application and software of a client is functioning well. They are the one who develops new engineering software and hardware that leads to innovation and technology. This person has practical communication skills since they need to interact with clients to determine the scope of the project and create a reasonable solution. An Application Engineer possesses skills in a wide range of technical concerns regarding software hardware. Typically, they can be seen different departments like manufacturing, marketing as well as customer services.
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
Lead application engineers and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Application Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $111,059 | $139,328 |
| Salary range | Between $85,000 And $144,000 | Between $99,000 And $195,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | Lyft | Mixpanel |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a lead application engineer and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Lead Application Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between lead application engineers' and engineering managers' demographics:
| Lead Application Engineer | Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.5% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 9% |