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The differences between senior engineering managers and software engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a senior engineering manager, becoming a software engineering manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior engineering manager has an average salary of $155,753, which is higher than the $140,929 average annual salary of a software engineering manager.
The top three skills for a senior engineering manager include java, architecture and cloud. The most important skills for a software engineering manager are java, software development, and software engineering.
| Senior Engineering Manager | Software Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $155,753 | $140,929 |
| Hourly rate | $74.88 | $67.75 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 70,918 | 262,296 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Senior engineering managers are the leaders who oversee and supervise a team of engineers. These executives are the ones who develop, modify, create, and test solutions to technical-related problems. They direct and coordinate the production, quality assurance, maintenance, operations, or testing in industrial plants. It is part of their job to handle the research and development of new procedures and products. They are also involved in improving the advance scientific research and manufacturing processes of the company.
A software engineering manager oversees the team involved in computer and software development. Typically, it is their responsibility to design and create software applications in collaboration with fellow skilled engineers in the group. Their duties revolve around devising strategies and designs, producing progress reports, monitoring the documentation processes, preparing presentations, and assessing workforce performance. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the engineering team to meet goals and standards while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Senior engineering managers and software engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Engineering Manager | Software Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $155,753 | $140,929 |
| Salary range | Between $110,000 And $218,000 | Between $100,000 And $198,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior engineering manager and a software engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Senior Engineering Manager | Software Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior engineering managers' and software engineering managers' demographics:
| Senior Engineering Manager | Software Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% | Male, 86.0% Female, 14.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 17.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |