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The differences between senior programmers and senior software development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a senior programmer, becoming a senior software development engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior software development engineer has an average salary of $116,926, which is higher than the $105,509 average annual salary of a senior programmer.
The top three skills for a senior programmer include macro, SAS and database. The most important skills for a senior software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Senior Programmer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $105,509 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $50.73 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 209,882 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
A Senior Programmer develops operations solutions through guiding the development of program specifications and leading programmers. They develop, test, and implement IT solutions.
A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Senior programmers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Programmer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $105,509 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $141,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Cornerstone Research | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior programmer and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Programmer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior programmers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Senior Programmer | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 19.2% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.6% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |