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The differences between senior desktop engineers and software design 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 senior desktop engineer and a software design engineer. Additionally, a senior desktop engineer has an average salary of $114,786, which is higher than the $98,799 average annual salary of a software design engineer.
The top three skills for a senior desktop engineer include SCCM, powershell and infrastructure. The most important skills for a software design engineer are software development, python, and software design.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $114,786 | $98,799 |
| Hourly rate | $55.19 | $47.50 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 264,973 | 315,080 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A senior desktop engineer identifies problems within computer systems and troubleshoots technical issues. They may also be responsible for creating software images, developing software, and updating schedules. This position requires knowledge in network troubleshooting, DNA storage, and problem-solving skills.
A software design engineer or SDE is part of a software development enterprise. Software design engineers determine the problems or issues and figure out how to establish programs to ease and automate the situations. They fabricate style sheets for the management of the individual aspects of huge engineering projects. It is their job to develop strategies for hardware architecture and software engineering. They also handle and mentor engineering interns for professional guidance.
Senior desktop engineers and software design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $114,786 | $98,799 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $151,000 | Between $74,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bloomberg | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior desktop engineer and a software design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior desktop engineers' and software design engineers' demographics:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |