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The differences between senior software engineers and lead technicians 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 engineer, becoming a lead technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $90,615 average annual salary of a lead technician.
The top three skills for a senior software engineer include java, python and javascript. The most important skills for a lead technician are java, architecture, and digital transformation.
| Senior Software Engineer | Lead Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $114,494 | $90,615 |
| Hourly rate | $55.05 | $43.56 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 338,989 | 250,590 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Lead technicians are technicians who oversee the technical needs of a specific project or department. They are usually tenured employees, and their familiarity with the company's technical and technological processes, software, and hardware would be a great advantage in succeeding in their role. Lead technicians are responsible for installing, updating, and maintaining various software and hardware components in the office. They often manage a group of technicians, and they ensure that the group they manage is properly trained and well-versed on the processes of the company. Lead technicians are expected to have strong analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Senior software engineers and lead technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Engineer | Lead Technician | |
| Average salary | $114,494 | $90,615 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $151,000 | Between $67,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior software engineer and a lead technician in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Engineer | Lead Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior software engineers' and lead technicians' demographics:
| Senior Software Engineer | Lead Technician | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 15.1% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |