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The differences between senior product engineers and senior software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior product 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 $101,685 average annual salary of a senior product engineer.
The top three skills for a senior product engineer include java, product engineering and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Senior Product Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,685 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $48.89 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 145,781 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A senior product engineer specializes in optimizing product designs and manufacturing procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are typically in charge of performing market research and analysis, utilizing the results as a basis in designing new products and upgrading existing designs. Moreover, they coordinate with product development teams to cultivate ideas, develop prototypes and test structures, and oversee the material selection that will make the products possible. As a senior product engineer, it is essential to monitor the entire progress and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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 product engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Product Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,685 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $131,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cloudflare | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior product engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Product Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior product engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Product Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |