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The differences between machining engineers and software development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a machining engineer, becoming a software development engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a machining engineer has an average salary of $123,716, which is higher than the $109,147 average annual salary of a software development engineer.
The top three skills for a machining engineer include python, java and tensorflow. The most important skills for a software development engineer are java, software development, and AWS.
| Machining Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $123,716 | $109,147 |
| Hourly rate | $59.48 | $52.47 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 93,823 | 356,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A machining engineer specializes in designing and developing new tools and mechanical equipment, even analyzing and improving designs to ensure efficiency. Their responsibilities revolve around overseeing and participating in installing, repairing, and maintaining different systems, coordinating with other engineers, and conducting regular inspections to monitor a machines' quality. It is also essential to address any issues or concerns, performing corrective measures right away. Furthermore, should a machining engineer work for a company, it is necessary to adhere to its policies and regulations.
A software development engineer is responsible for designing and developing software systems and applications based on clients' specifications and business needs. Software development engineers manage operating systems and analyze network codes to maintain the compatibility of the software applications and control systems. They also run diagnostic tests for every software structure to ensure smooth navigations and perform immediate troubleshooting for inconsistencies. A software development engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, as well as technological processes and analytical skills.
Machining engineers and software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machining Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $123,716 | $109,147 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $182,000 | Between $80,000 And $147,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Technology |
There are a few differences between a machining engineer and a software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Machining Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between machining engineers' and software development engineers' demographics:
| Machining Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 14.9% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 32.7% White, 49.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |