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Software developer internship vs software engineer

The differences between software developer interns and 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 developer internship and a software engineer. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, which is higher than the $38,480 average annual salary of a software developer internship.

The top three skills for a software developer internship include java, python and software development. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.

Software developer internship vs software engineer overview

Software Developer InternshipSoftware Engineer
Yearly salary$38,480$100,260
Hourly rate$18.50$48.20
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs314,860339,938
Job satisfaction-3.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

What does a software developer internship do?

A software developer intern is responsible for assisting the software engineers with the design implementation and shadowing their duties to understand the processes more efficiently. Software developer interns use their classroom knowledge on practical applications, suggesting recommendations on how to make the project successful. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, attend meetings, and help with maintaining complex systems and networks. A software developer intern must have excellent communication skills, as well as having strong attention to detail and the ability to learn fast.

What does a software engineer do?

A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.

Software developer internship vs software engineer salary

Software developer interns and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Software Developer InternshipSoftware Engineer
Average salary$38,480$100,260
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $48,000Between $73,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityFolsom, CASan Bruno, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companySandia National LabsThe Citadel
Best paying industryFinanceStart-up

Differences between software developer internship and software engineer education

There are a few differences between a software developer internship and a software engineer in terms of educational background:

Software Developer InternshipSoftware Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Software developer internship vs software engineer demographics

Here are the differences between software developer interns' and software engineers' demographics:

Software Developer InternshipSoftware Engineer
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 78.0% Female, 22.0%Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 40.1% White, 43.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between software developer internship and software engineer duties and responsibilities

Software developer internship example responsibilities.

  • Manage various 3D-modeling, visualization and animation projects to create a comprehensive and efficient software package for large-scale 3D animation projects.
  • Update web app remotely to be more responsive and user facing with HTML, PHP and CSS.
  • Create XML calls for post, updating, deleting API calls.
  • Implement test client in Java, J2EE and run test code in Linux.
  • Establish and update databases system using Java, J2EE, HTML, SQL/PL, Perl, WebLogic.
  • Implement the web interface by retrieving the XML data in JSON format from the PHP script residing on AWS.
  • Show more

Software engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage product releases, solve software bugs in a client/server environment, write UNIX shell scripts to manage development environments.
  • Manage responsive UI design, implementing complex, dynamic functionality.
  • Define continuous integration process and configure Jenkins build server to manage it.
  • Develop a python serial communication program to automate test procedures and verify proper operation.
  • Manage website/software/mobile applications by generating full scope requirements base upon PMI / SDLC guidance.
  • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
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Software developer internship vs software engineer skills

Common software developer internship skills
  • Java, 13%
  • Python, 10%
  • Software Development, 8%
  • JavaScript, 6%
  • Object Oriented Programming, 4%
  • AWS, 3%
Common software engineer skills
  • Java, 15%
  • Python, 9%
  • Software Development, 6%
  • Database, 3%
  • GIT, 3%
  • Object Oriented Programming, 3%

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