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The differences between software engineering specialists 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 engineering specialist and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $104,819 average annual salary of a software engineering specialist.
The top three skills for a software engineering specialist include java, software development and python. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Software Engineering Specialist | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,819 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $50.39 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 260,865 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A software engineering specialist designs and develops software engineering components. Moreover, they evaluate technical architecture and framework. They conduct tests on software and carry out any updates that are needed. Strong teamwork and communication skills are necessary for this position.
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 engineering specialists and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Engineering Specialist | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $104,819 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $133,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Media | Retail |
There are a few differences between a software engineering specialist and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Engineering Specialist | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | 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 engineering specialists' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Software Engineering Specialist | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| 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, 4.6% 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% |