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The differences between shift engineers and 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 shift engineer, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, which is higher than the $91,237 average annual salary of a shift engineer.
The top three skills for a shift engineer include HVAC, preventive maintenance and plumbing. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Shift Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,237 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $43.86 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 31,693 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 50 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A shift engineer conducts maintenance operations and ensures a company's engineering policies are upheld. They supervise a team, perform preventative maintenance, take orders, keep records, and control inventory. This position requires good communication skills, time management skills, and previous experience in the field.
A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Shift engineers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shift Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $91,237 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $128,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a shift engineer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Shift Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | - | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between shift engineers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Shift Engineer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |