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The differences between senior software engineers lead 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 engineer lead, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior software engineer lead has an average salary of $129,060, which is higher than the $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for a senior software engineer lead include java, architecture and software development. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $129,060 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $62.05 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 322,973 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A senior software engineer lead is responsible for overseeing the software creation process. They analyze projects, rectify errors, interpret project requirements, and develop detailed designs. They must create reports of all weekly tasks and ensure best practices are followed by their team.
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 engineers lead and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $129,060 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $173,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | PitchBook Data | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a senior software engineer lead and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior software engineers lead' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.0% Female, 21.0% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 33.4% White, 48.9% 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% |