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The differences between software release managers and 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 release manager, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software release manager has an average salary of $123,105, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for a software release manager include software releases, release management and software development. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Software Release Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $123,105 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $59.19 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 24,211 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Software release managers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Release Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $123,105 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $92,000 And $163,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a software release manager and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Release Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software release managers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Software Release Manager | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |