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The differences between software designers and software engineers lead 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 software engineer lead. Additionally, a software engineer lead has an average salary of $125,565, which is higher than the $107,449 average annual salary of a software designer.
The top three skills for a software designer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for a software engineer lead are java, python, and software development.
| Software Designer | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $107,449 | $125,565 |
| Hourly rate | $51.66 | $60.37 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 313,443 | 342,462 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Software designers transform customers' requirements into services. They analyze customers' needs, conduct negotiations, and create designs based on that data. They typically work with teams of programmers. They are also responsible for creating project documentation.
A Software Engineer Lead is focused on developing and testing software programs. They manage a team of software engineers that design enterprise software products and operating systems.
Software designers and software engineers lead have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Designer | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Average salary | $107,449 | $125,565 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $144,000 | Between $93,000 And $168,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Globant | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a software designer and a software engineer lead in terms of educational background:
| Software Designer | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software designers' and software engineers lead' demographics:
| Software Designer | Software Engineer Lead | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 8.3% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |