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The differences between software development managers and senior software development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a software development manager, becoming a senior software development engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software development manager has an average salary of $134,747, which is higher than the $116,926 average annual salary of a senior software development engineer.
The top three skills for a software development manager include java, AWS and architecture. The most important skills for a senior software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,747 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $64.78 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 265,464 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A software development manager is an individual who manages teams of software developers that design and create software applications and web services for clients. Software development managers should delegate duties and establish development standards for the development team as well as create a budget and timeline for the project. They must meet with management to discuss how software applications can achieve business objectives. Once the software has been developed, software development managers must train technical and non-technical end-users. They must also be skilled in different programming languages such as HTML, SQL, and JavaScript.
A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Software development managers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,747 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $100,000 And $180,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a software development manager and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software development managers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.6% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |