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The differences between software developers and data 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 and a data engineer. Additionally, a data engineer has an average salary of $109,675, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a software developer include java, python and C++. The most important skills for a data engineer are python, java, and cloud.
| Software Developer | Data Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,521 | $109,675 |
| Hourly rate | $42.08 | $52.73 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 294,329 | 303,105 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
A data engineer is someone who makes data science possible. This IT job requires the search for data set trends and algorithm development to make raw data more beneficial to the enterprise. Data engineers are responsible for establishing and maintaining an environment that permits other data functions. The necessary skills for the job include in-depth knowledge of multiple programming languages and SQL database design. Among the other skills data engineers should develop include data warehousing and architecture, data mining and modeling, and statistical regression analysis.
Software developers and data engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Developer | Data Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,521 | $109,675 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $113,000 | Between $80,000 And $149,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software developer and a data engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Developer | Data Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between software developers' and data engineers' demographics:
| Software Developer | Data Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% | Male, 81.5% Female, 18.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.1% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |