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The differences between software consultants 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 software consultant and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $88,605 average annual salary of a software consultant.
The top three skills for a software consultant include web application, database and java. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Software Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,605 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $42.60 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 275,746 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software consultant is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the technological content and system applications of an organization, ensuring its efficiency and optimal performance. Software consultants design software systems, following clients' specifications and business needs. They must have excellent knowledge of the technology systems, programming languages, and system codes to create software processes and manage the network systems. A software consultant runs multiple diagnostic tests and creates troubleshooting reports for technical support reference.
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.
Software consultants and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,605 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $115,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Silver Peak | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Retail |
There are a few differences between a software consultant and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between software consultants' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Software Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% 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% |