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Software support manager vs software engineering manager

The differences between software support managers and software engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a software support manager, becoming a software engineering manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software engineering manager has an average salary of $140,929, which is higher than the $104,045 average annual salary of a software support manager.

The top three skills for a software support manager include software support, software development and technical support. The most important skills for a software engineering manager are java, software development, and software engineering.

Software support manager vs software engineering manager overview

Software Support ManagerSoftware Engineering Manager
Yearly salary$104,045$140,929
Hourly rate$50.02$67.75
Growth rate16%21%
Number of jobs113,869262,296
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4739
Years of experience84

What does a software support manager do?

A software support manager updates software, oversees a team, and ensures risk assessment activities are completed. They also create progress reports and manage documentation for their team. Ultimately, they manage, install, restore and debug software.

What does a software engineering manager do?

A software engineering manager oversees the team involved in computer and software development. Typically, it is their responsibility to design and create software applications in collaboration with fellow skilled engineers in the group. Their duties revolve around devising strategies and designs, producing progress reports, monitoring the documentation processes, preparing presentations, and assessing workforce performance. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the engineering team to meet goals and standards while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Software support manager vs software engineering manager salary

Software support managers and software engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Software Support ManagerSoftware Engineering Manager
Average salary$104,045$140,929
Salary rangeBetween $76,000 And $141,000Between $100,000 And $198,000
Highest paying CityFoster City, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyNVIDIAMeta
Best paying industryTelecommunicationTechnology

Differences between software support manager and software engineering manager education

There are a few differences between a software support manager and a software engineering manager in terms of educational background:

Software Support ManagerSoftware Engineering Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityHarvard University

Software support manager vs software engineering manager demographics

Here are the differences between software support managers' and software engineering managers' demographics:

Software Support ManagerSoftware Engineering Manager
Average age4739
Gender ratioMale, 71.0% Female, 29.0%Male, 86.0% Female, 14.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%8%

Differences between software support manager and software engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Software support manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage Linux client problem reports and engineering responses.
  • Manage programmers in the design, development, testing and debugging of sophisticate computer graphics applications.
  • Develop and run SQL and PL/SQL scripts as a workaround to resolve critical billing issues.
  • Focuse in the areas of Linux BSP, network protocol stacks data, control and management plane software.
  • Monitor JIRA tickets to ensure completeness and accuracy both before development begins and throughout the ticket's development lifecycle.
  • Used SQL, PL/SQL, data dictionaries, configuration and performance tuning utilities and operating system level scripting extensively.
  • Show more

Software engineering manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage plan of record (POR) and executive governance meetings.
  • Manage a horizontal team composes of senior system, middleware, and python engineers.
  • Manage all reporting to PMO office and senior management for monthly project status reporting.
  • Help write and review ISO procedures and are a key participant in INDUS achieving ISO certification.
  • Introduce Jenkins to the lab to automate aws commands, and integrate automate testing into QA process.
  • Manage 3rd party development contractors for an iphone app, android app, and embeddable flash widget.
  • Show more

Software support manager vs software engineering manager skills

Common software support manager skills
  • Software Support, 12%
  • Software Development, 11%
  • Technical Support, 8%
  • Customer Support, 6%
  • Database, 6%
  • SQL Server, 5%
Common software engineering manager skills
  • Java, 17%
  • Software Development, 7%
  • Software Engineering, 7%
  • Emerging Technologies, 5%
  • Cloud, 5%
  • Python, 4%

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