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The differences between senior software engineers and senior consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior software engineer and a senior consultant. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $100,188 average annual salary of a senior consultant.
The top three skills for a senior software engineer include java, python and javascript. The most important skills for a senior consultant are healthcare, project management, and java.
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $114,494 | $100,188 |
| Hourly rate | $55.05 | $48.17 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 338,989 | 241,206 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 consultants are individual contributors whose services are tapped by the organization for guidance on specific projects. They are experienced experts in a particular field that the company operates in or would like to have projects in. They are given primers on specific projects, and they comment on the feasibility of the undertaking. Once the task is deemed feasible, senior consultants act as guides throughout the project's planning and initial implementation stages. They provide their expert opinion to ensure the success of the project.
Senior software engineers and senior consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Consultant | |
| Average salary | $114,494 | $100,188 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $151,000 | Between $76,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Conning |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior software engineer and a senior consultant in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between senior software engineers' and senior consultants' demographics:
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior Consultant | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 69.9% Female, 30.1% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.2% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |