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The differences between senior software engineers lead and senior software engineers 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 lead and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer lead has an average salary of $129,060, which is higher than the $114,494 average annual salary of a senior software engineer.
The top three skills for a senior software engineer lead include java, architecture and software development. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $129,060 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $62.05 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 322,973 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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 software engineers lead and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $129,060 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $173,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | PitchBook Data | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior software engineer lead and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior software engineers lead' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Software Engineer Lead | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.0% Female, 21.0% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |