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The differences between pre sales engineers and software 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 pre sales engineer, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a pre sales engineer has an average salary of $116,651, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for a pre sales engineer include sales process, pre sales and cloud. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Pre Sales Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $116,651 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $56.08 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 68,855 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A pre-sales engineer's role is to assist clients by offering technology recommendations and advice, aiming to secure sales and client satisfaction. Aside from selling products and services, a pre-sales engineer is also responsible for coordinating with various sales personnel, identifying the needs of clients, discussing how the equipment and devices can help attain business goals, and answering any inquiries about the subject. Furthermore, it is essential to develop positive relationships with clients, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Pre sales engineers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pre Sales Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $116,651 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $160,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a pre sales engineer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Pre Sales Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between pre sales engineers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Pre Sales Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.5% Female, 16.5% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.7% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 8.4% White, 75.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 8% |