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The differences between senior software application engineers and senior 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 senior 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 $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for a senior software application engineer include java, python and architecture. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $117,345 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $56.42 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 323,172 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Senior software application engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $117,345 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $89,000 And $153,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Roku | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a senior software application engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior software application engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Senior Software Application Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |