Is there any difference between a software developer and a software engineer? Definitely yes. You can see the major differences in the tasks assigned, job responsibilities, and, more importantly, the salaries. Let’s see how these differences define developers and engineers.
Roles of Software Developers and Software Engineers
A software developer’s main job is to write code or programs to create web, desktop, or mobile software systems. Comparing to engineers, developers work with more limited tasks. The main responsibilities of a developer include:
- Building the software in sync with the needs of the customer
- Analysis and recommendation of software updates
- Designing strategies that help develop code needed for application development
- Testing and maintenance of the app
Unlike developing software, software engineering is teamwork. An engineer has to be systematic in his approach and work with other engineers to build a larger system. The responsibilities of an engineer include:
- Creating software product modifications
- Providing guidance to the development team
- Developing a complete strategy to help customers understand their needs
- Communicating with vendors
- Creating a service summary for the client
Skills of Developers and Engineers
A software developer possesses the following skills:
- Knowledge of at least one programming language
- Knowledge of writing code
- Understanding of OS like iOS/Windows depending on the project
- Knowledge of testing code
- Knowledge of algorithms and data structures
Now take a look at the skills required for a software engineer.
- Independence and integrity
- Excellent communication with previous clients
- Great analytical skills
- Understanding of engineering concepts and approaches
- Great problem-solving skills
- Great project management skills
- Programming
Salaries of Software Developers and Engineers
Many factors like the technology, region of work, and technical expertise affect the salaries of both software developers and engineers. For example, the average annual wage of a developer in the US is $96K and in Germany is $62K. But this may go down to $33K and $9K in Ukraine and India, respectively. This shift is mainly due to the lower living costs in these low-paying countries.
It is estimated that software engineers earn more than developers in every part of the world. The annual average salary of a software engineer is $105K in the US and $65K in Germany. In lower-income countries like Ukraine and India, the figures are $35K and $10K, respectively. An experienced software engineer can earn double or triple the average salary.
The bottom line is that though a developer and engineer seem to have similar jobs, their work does differ in terms of responsibilities, work process, and the tools used. When you understand your requirements and whom you need, contact YouTeam, and we’ll provide experienced and pre-vetted specialists within two days.
Read more at: https://youteam.io/blog/software-developer-vs-engineer/
