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The differences between software development project managers and senior software development 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 development project manager and a senior software development engineer. Additionally, a senior software development engineer has an average salary of $116,926, which is higher than the $106,633 average annual salary of a software development project manager.
The top three skills for a software development project manager include project management, scrum and software development. The most important skills for a senior software development engineer are java, software development, and python.
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,633 | $116,926 |
| Hourly rate | $51.27 | $56.21 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 331,412 | 346,833 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Software development project managers are responsible for scheduling, planning, and delivering software and web projects. The managers must have knowledge of project estimation techniques and the ability to motivate team members. These managers plan out the blueprints for software projects like allocating resources, laying out communication strategies, and indicating test and maintenance. Also, they participate and supervise each stage of the project, ensure each project stays on schedule and adheres to the deadline, and discuss potential projects with clients, software developers, and executives.
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 project managers and senior software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $106,633 | $116,926 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $148,000 | Between $87,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Washington |
| Best paying company | Barclays | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a software development project manager and a senior software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | 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 project managers' and senior software development engineers' demographics:
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 8% | 8% |