Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior manufacturing 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 manufacturing 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 $93,853 average annual salary of a senior manufacturing engineer.
The top three skills for a senior manufacturing engineer include lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and sigma. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,853 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $45.12 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 97,154 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A Senior Manufacturing Engineer works in a company's production operations and is responsible for developing and improving manufacturing processes. They analyze and propose solutions to engineering problems.
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 manufacturing engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,853 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $123,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior manufacturing engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior manufacturing engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 17.1% White, 63.1% 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 | 5% | 8% |