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The differences between software specialists and principal 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 specialist and a principal software engineer. Additionally, a principal software engineer has an average salary of $134,230, which is higher than the $84,009 average annual salary of a software specialist.
The top three skills for a software specialist include C++, C # and database. The most important skills for a principal software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Software Specialist | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,009 | $134,230 |
| Hourly rate | $40.39 | $64.53 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 264,307 | 345,893 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Software Specialist designs and develops computer software and operating systems, establishing policies and protocols to ensure quality and data security. They function as a member of a company or an organization's information technology department. They also utilize their expertise by assessing and reviewing existing software, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against vulnerable areas. Most of the time, a software specialist directly communicates with clients to determine their software needs and preferences, regularly coordinating to ensure client satisfaction and smooth workflow.
A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization's projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.
Software specialists and principal software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Specialist | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,009 | $134,230 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $98,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | American Express | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Retail |
There are a few differences between a software specialist and a principal software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Specialist | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between software specialists' and principal software engineers' demographics:
| Software Specialist | Principal Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.4% 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% |