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The differences between senior software application engineers and lead engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior software application engineer, becoming a lead engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior software application engineer has an average salary of $117,345, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a senior software application engineer include java, python and architecture. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $117,345 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $56.42 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 323,172 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Senior software application engineers usually take the lead in software development-related projects. Proficiency in the Phyton, Java, and JavaScript programming languages is an advantage to succeed in the workplace. The engineers' duties and responsibilities include identifying the needs of the organization, planning for the development of a software solution, and analyzing the data collected during the software testing phase. The core skills that these engineers should possess include creativity and strong analytical and communication skills.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Senior software application engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $117,345 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $89,000 And $153,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior software application engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior software application engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |