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The differences between technical consultants 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 consultant, 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 $89,290 average annual salary of a technical consultant.
The top three skills for a technical consultant include java, database and customer service. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.
| Technical Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,290 | $114,494 |
| Hourly rate | $42.93 | $55.05 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 173,374 | 338,989 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A technical consultant is an individual who provides technical support and performs troubleshooting functions for the company's product or application. A consultant should be highly knowledgeable about the product or application so that he/she can assist users and clients with whatever issues they may be facing. A bachelor's degree is required to work as a technical consultant, particularly a degree in Computer Science or Engineering. Also, a consultant should conduct training sessions and therefore, must possess excellent communication skills.
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 consultants and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,290 | $114,494 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $86,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Retail |
There are a few differences between a technical consultant and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Technical Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | 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 consultants' and senior software engineers' demographics:
| Technical Consultant | Senior Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.3% White, 58.1% 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% |