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The differences between senior information technology engineers and senior software 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 information technology engineer, becoming a senior software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $113,612 average annual salary of a senior information technology engineer.
The top three skills for a senior information technology engineer include cloud, architecture and java. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Senior Information Technology Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $113,612 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $54.62 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 163,912 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A senior information technology engineer is responsible for designing and creating technical solutions to support business operations and client specifications. Senior information technology engineers improve existing software applications and programs to boost optimization and stabilize network infrastructure. They also support end-users in resolving their system issues and write troubleshooting reports to prevent the reoccurrence of downtimes and delays. A senior information technology engineer must have excellent technical and organizational skills to test multiple systems and ensure that the features meet the quality standards and business requirements.
Senior software engineers are experienced employees who would usually take the lead in projects related to software development. They are in charge of determining the needs of the organization, checking whether there are feasible solutions to challenges, and creating plans for the development of a software solution. They provide a sound analysis of data collected during the testing phase of the software and address any problems during the software development phase. Once the software has been developed, they then ensure that it works well and that it addresses the needs and expectations of the users.
Senior information technology engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Information Technology Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $113,612 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $145,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior information technology engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Information Technology Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior information technology engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Information Technology Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |