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The differences between senior computer engineers and design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior computer engineer, becoming a design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior computer engineer has an average salary of $127,660, which is higher than the $77,134 average annual salary of a design engineer.
The top three skills for a senior computer engineer include C++, CAD and infrastructure. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Senior Computer Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $127,660 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $61.38 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 42,662 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A senior computer engineer's main goal is to conduct research and design different types of computer hardware and software systems. They must know to manage servers and create automation in projects. They should also know how to resolve network issues and troubleshoot problems.
A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Senior computer engineers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Computer Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $127,660 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $94,000 And $173,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior computer engineer and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Computer Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior computer engineers' and design engineers' demographics:
| Senior Computer Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.3% Female, 11.7% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |