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The differences between lead software developers and senior software development 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 lead software developer and a senior software development engineer. Additionally, a senior software development engineer has an average salary of $116,926, which is higher than the $115,072 average annual salary of a lead software developer.
The top three skills for a lead software developer include java, architecture and application development. The most important skills for a senior software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Lead Software Developer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $115,072 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $55.32 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 309,029 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface. They also coordinate with the design engineers to modify and improve the features of existing software applications for optimal performance. A lead software developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in considering the current technology trends to meet demands.
A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Lead software developers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Software Developer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $115,072 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $151,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a lead software developer and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Software Developer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between lead software developers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Lead Software Developer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.6% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |