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The differences between software development engineers and development technicians 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 development engineer and a development technician. Additionally, a software development engineer has an average salary of $109,147, which is higher than the $92,109 average annual salary of a development technician.
The top three skills for a software development engineer include java, software development and AWS. The most important skills for a development technician are java, C++, and C #.
| Software Development Engineer | Development Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $109,147 | $92,109 |
| Hourly rate | $52.47 | $44.28 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 356,971 | 82,959 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software development engineer is responsible for designing and developing software systems and applications based on clients' specifications and business needs. Software development engineers manage operating systems and analyze network codes to maintain the compatibility of the software applications and control systems. They also run diagnostic tests for every software structure to ensure smooth navigations and perform immediate troubleshooting for inconsistencies. A software development engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, as well as technological processes and analytical skills.
A development technician is an individual who manages technology development for hardware used in the server systems of an organization. Development technicians are required to organize tasks and resources so that they can complete work and meet deadlines that are according to departmental procedures. They must train production personnel on the standard operating procedures for manufacturing equipment as well as train colleagues in standard operating procedures. Development technicians must also assist Java developers in characterizing and debugging technical problems.
Software development engineers and development technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Development Engineer | Development Technician | |
| Average salary | $109,147 | $92,109 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $147,000 | Between $63,000 And $134,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software development engineer and a development technician in terms of educational background:
| Software Development Engineer | Development Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software development engineers' and development technicians' demographics:
| Software Development Engineer | Development Technician | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 32.7% White, 49.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |