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The differences between senior support engineers and senior software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior support engineer, becoming a senior software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $107,037 average annual salary of a senior support engineer.
The top three skills for a senior support engineer include java, customer service and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Senior Support Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,037 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $51.46 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 215,312 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A senior support engineer specializes in providing technical support to clients. They are typically in charge of working on complicated technical issues, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Their responsibilities include communicating with clients, addressing their needs, troubleshooting, and providing step by step solutions. They may also arrange repair appointments or refer clients to other services. Furthermore, as a senior support engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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 support engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Support Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,037 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $137,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a senior support engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Support Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between senior support engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Senior Support Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 15.2% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 11% | 8% |