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Software designer vs contract software engineer

The differences between software designers and contract 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 designer and a contract software engineer. Additionally, a software designer has an average salary of $107,449, which is higher than the $102,925 average annual salary of a contract software engineer.

The top three skills for a software designer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for a contract software engineer are java, software development, and database.

Software designer vs contract software engineer overview

Software DesignerContract Software Engineer
Yearly salary$107,449$102,925
Hourly rate$51.66$49.48
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs313,443322,978
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

Software designer vs contract software engineer salary

Software designers and contract software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Software DesignerContract Software Engineer
Average salary$107,449$102,925
Salary rangeBetween $80,000 And $144,000Between $76,000 And $138,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyGlobant-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between software designer and contract software engineer education

There are a few differences between a software designer and a contract software engineer in terms of educational background:

Software DesignerContract Software Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Software designer vs contract software engineer demographics

Here are the differences between software designers' and contract software engineers' demographics:

Software DesignerContract Software Engineer
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 80.0% Female, 20.0%Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between software designer and contract software engineer duties and responsibilities

Software designer example responsibilities.

  • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
  • Implement user interface on web base application using HTML5, JavaScript.
  • Modify kernels to allow proprietary software to function in Linux.
  • Design PCI driver from scratch and create an API for reuse.
  • Create hardware configurations for test machines and seek quotes from various UNIX vendors.
  • Specify, design, implement, test, and document customized HTML generation utilities.
  • Show more

Contract software engineer example responsibilities.

  • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
  • Develop API to allow diagnostic modules to be invoke from different languages and browsers.
  • Complete rewrite of network interfaces (TCP/IP/UDP) and API's to kernel level functions.
  • Work on development of XML reports from older technology for distribution to branches and managers.
  • Develop various reports in PDF format using various XML technologies to reflect contact and quote data.
  • Integrate outsourced UI into existing application.
  • Show more

Software designer vs contract software engineer skills

Common software designer skills
  • Python, 7%
  • Java, 6%
  • Software Development, 6%
  • Linux, 5%
  • Windows, 5%
  • Data Structures, 4%
Common contract software engineer skills
  • Java, 8%
  • Software Development, 7%
  • Database, 6%
  • JavaScript, 6%
  • Http, 5%
  • API, 4%

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