Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior process control engineers and senior 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 process control engineer and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $103,292 average annual salary of a senior process control engineer.
The top three skills for a senior process control engineer include PLC, DCS and control strategies. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Senior Process Control Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $103,292 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $49.66 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 68,538 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A senior process control engineer is charged with configuring, standardizing, and optimizing systems within the equipment control domain. They are tasked with defining system requirements, participating in configuring systems, liaising between end-users and system developers, and driving projects from stand to the end. They must also participate in the strategic direction of equipment control teams, production process improvements, and project implementation and prioritization. Their other responsibilities include partnering with technology experts to build progressive system solutions, planning training, and ensuring safety compliance.
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 process control engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Process Control Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $103,292 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $135,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Tesoro | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior process control engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Process Control Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior process control engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Process Control Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.0% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 8% |