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The differences between software development managers and senior software 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 engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software development manager has an average salary of $134,747, which is higher than the $114,494 average annual salary of a senior software engineer.
The top three skills for a software development manager include java, AWS and architecture. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,747 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $64.78 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 265,464 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| 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.
Senior software engineers are experienced employees who would usually take the lead in projects related to software development. They are in charge of determining the needs of the organization, checking whether there are feasible solutions to challenges, and creating plans for the development of a software solution. They provide a sound analysis of data collected during the testing phase of the software and address any problems during the software development phase. Once the software has been developed, they then ensure that it works well and that it addresses the needs and expectations of the users.
Software development managers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,747 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $100,000 And $180,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a software development manager and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between software development managers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Software Development Manager | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |