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The differences between software specialists and software analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a software specialist, becoming a software analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a software specialist has an average salary of $84,009, which is higher than the $78,400 average annual salary of a software analyst.
The top three skills for a software specialist include C++, C # and database. The most important skills for a software analyst are java, C++, and software development.
| Software Specialist | Software Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $84,009 | $78,400 |
| Hourly rate | $40.39 | $37.69 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 264,307 | 274,053 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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 software analyst is responsible for creating and designing software programs and applications, as well as modifying existing ones for optimization according to business requirements. Software analysts work with the technical team to draw system codes, analyze programming languages, and ensure the stability and efficiency of software navigation by running multiple quality checks to the system. They inspect the application's performance, configure servers, and improve software infrastructure according to quality findings. A software analyst records resolution reports and provides progress updates, ensuring that the project adheres to budget limitations and set timetables.
Software specialists and software analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Specialist | Software Analyst | |
| Average salary | $84,009 | $78,400 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $61,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Oregon |
| Best paying company | American Express | ConocoPhillips |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a software specialist and a software analyst in terms of educational background:
| Software Specialist | Software Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software specialists' and software analysts' demographics:
| Software Specialist | Software Analyst | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 67.7% Female, 32.3% |
| 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, 10.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |