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The differences between software automation engineers and software development 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 software automation engineer and a software development engineer. Additionally, a software development engineer has an average salary of $109,147, which is higher than the $102,812 average annual salary of a software automation engineer.
The top three skills for a software automation engineer include python, java and C #. The most important skills for a software development engineer are java, software development, and AWS.
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,812 | $109,147 |
| Hourly rate | $49.43 | $52.47 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 229,709 | 356,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software automation engineer specializes in designing and developing software and systems. In a company setting, it is their duty to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current systems and devices, conceptualize plans according to the company's needs, develop prototypes and test structures, and implement solutions against problem areas. They must also coordinate with software teams, provide technical support, and maintain extensive records. Furthermore, as a software automation engineer, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks, perform repairs and upgrades as needed.
A software development engineer is responsible for designing and developing software systems and applications based on clients' specifications and business needs. Software development engineers manage operating systems and analyze network codes to maintain the compatibility of the software applications and control systems. They also run diagnostic tests for every software structure to ensure smooth navigations and perform immediate troubleshooting for inconsistencies. A software development engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, as well as technological processes and analytical skills.
Software automation engineers and software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,812 | $109,147 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $138,000 | Between $80,000 And $147,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software automation engineer and a software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software automation engineers' and software development engineers' demographics:
| Software Automation Engineer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.1% Female, 21.9% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 32.7% White, 49.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |