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The differences between software specialists and 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 software engineer. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, 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 software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Software Specialist | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,009 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $40.39 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 264,307 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Software specialists and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Specialist | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,009 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | American Express | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a software specialist and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Software Specialist | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software specialists' and software engineers' demographics:
| Software Specialist | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |