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The differences between senior desktop engineers and software 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 engineer. Additionally, a senior desktop engineer has an average salary of $114,786, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for a senior desktop engineer include SCCM, powershell and infrastructure. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $114,786 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $55.19 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 264,973 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 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.
Senior desktop engineers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $114,786 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $151,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bloomberg | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a senior desktop engineer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior desktop engineers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |