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The differences between software engineers and senior software 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 engineer and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for a software engineer include java, python and software development. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,260 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $48.20 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 339,938 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
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 engineers and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $100,260 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $136,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Retail |
There are a few differences between a software engineer and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between software engineers' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 8% | 8% |