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The differences between software automation engineers and staff 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 software automation engineer and a staff software engineer. Additionally, a staff software engineer has an average salary of $136,653, 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 staff software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Software Automation Engineer | Staff Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,812 | $136,653 |
| Hourly rate | $49.43 | $65.70 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 229,709 | 371,213 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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 Staff Software Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and repairing company software for maximum efficiency and usability. They instruct and mentor their team members in software development techniques and cloud development.
Software automation engineers and staff software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Automation Engineer | Staff Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,812 | $136,653 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $138,000 | Between $100,000 And $186,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Retail |
There are a few differences between a software automation engineer and a staff software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Automation Engineer | Staff Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software automation engineers' and staff software engineers' demographics:
| Software Automation Engineer | Staff Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.1% Female, 21.9% | Male, 83.0% Female, 17.0% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 33.5% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |