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The differences between technical analysts and senior software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a technical analyst, becoming a senior software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior software engineer has an average salary of $114,494, which is higher than the $74,045 average annual salary of a technical analyst.
The top three skills for a technical analyst include java, customer service and strong analytical. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Technical Analyst | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,045 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $35.60 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 190,370 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A technical analyst is responsible for analyzing technical information and aligning it to the business strategies and procedures in meeting project goals. Technical analysts monitor technical system errors and provide immediate resolutions to ensure an efficient and smooth flow of operations. They comply with the business requirements and clients' specifications to facilitate the technical team with the best techniques to get the job done. A technical analyst should have excellent critical-thinking and communication skills, as well as having a broad knowledge of the technology industry and disciplines.
Senior software engineers are experienced employees who would usually take the lead in projects related to software development. They are in charge of determining the needs of the organization, checking whether there are feasible solutions to challenges, and creating plans for the development of a software solution. They provide a sound analysis of data collected during the testing phase of the software and address any problems during the software development phase. Once the software has been developed, they then ensure that it works well and that it addresses the needs and expectations of the users.
Technical analysts and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Analyst | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,045 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $92,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a technical analyst and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Technical Analyst | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between technical analysts' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Technical Analyst | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.9% Female, 30.1% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 18.5% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |