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Software release manager vs software engineer

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 vs software engineer overview

Software Release ManagerSoftware Engineer
Yearly salary$123,105$100,260
Hourly rate$59.19$48.20
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs24,211339,938
Job satisfaction-3.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4439
Years of experience64

Software release manager vs software engineer salary

Software release managers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Software Release ManagerSoftware Engineer
Average salary$123,105$100,260
Salary rangeBetween $92,000 And $163,000Between $73,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Bruno, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleThe Citadel
Best paying industryManufacturingStart-up

Differences between software release manager and software engineer education

There are a few differences between a software release manager and a software engineer in terms of educational background:

Software Release ManagerSoftware Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyHarvard University

Software release manager vs software engineer demographics

Here are the differences between software release managers' and software engineers' demographics:

Software Release ManagerSoftware Engineer
Average age4439
Gender ratioMale, 63.4% Female, 36.6%Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%8%

Differences between software release manager and software engineer duties and responsibilities

Software release manager example responsibilities.

  • Research and self-train in JIRA administration and am currently managing projects across several groups.
  • Work with management to train and identify other teams to manage mission critical projects to use TFS with.
  • Manage customer relationship by communicating SharePoint architecture standards and frameworks; answering questions; resolving concerns and issues.
  • Implement new processes to improve quality of software deliver through the systems development life cycle (SDLC).
  • Create shell scripts, xml properties for Java builds.
  • Create data models to translate business needs into requirements for developers and QA teams.
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Software engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage product releases, solve software bugs in a client/server environment, write UNIX shell scripts to manage development environments.
  • Manage responsive UI design, implementing complex, dynamic functionality.
  • Define continuous integration process and configure Jenkins build server to manage it.
  • Develop a python serial communication program to automate test procedures and verify proper operation.
  • Manage website/software/mobile applications by generating full scope requirements base upon PMI / SDLC guidance.
  • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
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Software release manager vs software engineer skills

Common software release manager skills
  • Software Releases, 10%
  • Release Management, 10%
  • Software Development, 10%
  • Release Process, 6%
  • QA, 5%
  • Management Process, 4%
Common software engineer skills
  • Java, 15%
  • Python, 9%
  • Software Development, 6%
  • Database, 3%
  • GIT, 3%
  • Object Oriented Programming, 3%

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