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The differences between software engineering interns and software developers 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 engineering internship and a software developer. Additionally, a software developer has an average salary of $87,521, which is higher than the $47,164 average annual salary of a software engineering internship.
The top three skills for a software engineering internship include java, python and object oriented programming. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Software Engineering Internship | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $47,164 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $22.68 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 301,105 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software engineer intern is responsible for assisting the technology department's operations, using their class knowledge on performing practical applications. Software engineer interns support software engineers on their processes, shadowing their daily tasks, and performing duties under mentors' supervision. They assess ideas, contribute to the development of new applications, and research current technology trends to help with product innovations. A software engineer intern must have excellent knowledge of the technology systems industry, programming languages, and learn efficiently through observations.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Software engineering interns and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Engineering Internship | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $47,164 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $73,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software engineering internship and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Software Engineering Internship | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software engineering interns' and software developers' demographics:
| Software Engineering Internship | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.0% Female, 24.0% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 42.6% White, 40.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |