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The differences between software specialists and specialists 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 specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a software specialist has an average salary of $84,009, which is higher than the $58,013 average annual salary of a specialist.
The top three skills for a software specialist include C++, C # and database. The most important skills for a specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.
| Software Specialist | Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,009 | $58,013 |
| Hourly rate | $40.39 | $27.89 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 264,307 | 358,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.
Software specialists and specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average salary | $84,009 | $58,013 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $32,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | American Express | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | - |
There are a few differences between a software specialist and a specialist in terms of educational background:
| Software Specialist | Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software specialists' and specialists' demographics:
| Software Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |