Software Engineer vs Programmer: What’s the Difference?

In short, programmers focus on creating functional code, while software engineers design software from an engineering perspective with consideration for end-users, clients, and business needs. Software engineers are also programmers themselves. 

As the tech field continues to expand and more workers seek out employment in it, it is important to understand the differences between essential roles, such as the software engineer vs programmer difference. While many use these terms interchangeably, and some of the responsibilities involved do overlap, they are distinct roles.

In this article, we will break down the difference between a programmer and a software engineer. We will discuss responsibilities, education requirements, and even salaries to help you evaluate the pros and cons of a software engineer vs coder path in terms of which one will give you a better chance of landing the best jobs in tech.

What Is the Difference Between a Software Engineer and a Programmer?

One simple way to understand the difference between a software engineer vs a programmer is to think of the scope of their work. Whereas a programmer focuses on a specific task or aspect of a project, a software engineer often oversees the development of a project from start to finish. Some of the main differences include:

• Level of education. The education requirements for a software engineer usually include a software engineering degree. Programmers are not required to have a degree to land a job.
• Scope of responsibilities. Software engineers are usually responsible for projects from start to finish. This includes communication with clients and other team members. Programmers do collaborate with team members, but they perform the bulk of their work on their own.
• Salaries. Because of these differences, salaries for software engineers tend to be higher.

What Is a Computer Programmer?

A computer programmer is someone who writes code to create computer programs, software, operating systems, apps, and websites. They do this by coding or programming, which involves typing a set of instructions in a programming language that a computer can then interpret. In a typical work environment, programmers take instructions from designers, engineers, or lead programmers and turn those instructions into working code.

Computer programmers are also responsible for testing and debugging code, as well as updating the programs they create. Programming opens up various career paths in computer science and other technical fields.

Computer Programmer Job Requirements

Typical computer programmer job requirements include the ability to code using different types of coding languages, the ability to collaborate with other programmers and team members, and the ability to produce clean and easy-to-read code. Programmers should also be able to debug software and read other people’s code as well as their own.

Computer Programmer Education Requirements

The typical education for a computer programmer includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field. However, you can also choose an alternative route, such as a coding bootcamp or self-teaching, to learn the necessary skills and land an entry-level tech job.

Essential Skills and Coding Languages for a Computer Programmer

The essential skills for a programmer include the ability to code in a popular programming language and a solid understanding of data structures and algorithms. Critical thinking, a good memory, and problem-solving are also essential skills for a programmer. 

All programmers should have at least a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and Java. Other widely used languages programmers should learn include Python, C, C++, SQL, and JavaScript. The choice of which languages to specialize in will ultimately depend on the types of projects you want to work on.

What Is the Salary of a Computer Programmer?

The average salary of a programmer is $93,000 per year, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Top earners in the field made more than $155,240 in 2021. However, the job outlook of computer programmers is expected to drop by 10 percent from 2021 to 2031.

What Is a Software Engineer?

A software engineer is a professional who applies engineering principles to software and software development. The job shares similarities with software development. However, the engineering background of these professionals makes them more effective at tackling projects using specific tools and methodologies. 

Just as civil engineers consider the river bed before designing a bridge foundation, software engineers consider computer hardware and software systems to design software that will work well in a particular environment. Software engineers also communicate with clients and other stakeholders to design software that fulfills their needs.

Software Engineer Job Requirements

Software engineers are the swiss army knives of the tech industry. The most obvious requirement is an understanding of software and engineering principles. Other software engineer requirements include the ability to work with, and often manage, a team, as well as to effectively communicate with clients.

Software Engineer Education Requirements

The typical education for a software engineer includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering, though some employers might require a graduate degree in addition. However, you can also attend a software engineering coding bootcamp, as many companies will also consider this to be sufficient for the role.

Essential Skills and Coding Languages for a Software Engineer

Software engineering skills include an aptitude for mathematics, excellent communication skills, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and the ability to manage projects from start to finish while staying within budget and on schedule.

Software engineers can benefit from familiarizing themselves with a wider variety of programming languages, especially if they will be reviewing code written by other programmers. However, the essentials are the same. A solid understanding of HTML and CSS is important, as are other popular languages such as JavaScript, Python, SQL, and C. 

What Is the Salary of a Software Engineer?

BLS does not have data specifically for software engineers, but they do have data on software developers. According to these stats, the median salary of a software engineer is $120,730 per year, with the top 10 percent of earners making over $168,570 per year.

Computer Programmer vs Software Engineer

In the discussion of software engineer vs programmer, there is a lot of overlap. In a broad sense, all software engineers are programmers. They need coding experience to become software engineers, but their responsibilities are often broader in scope and involve communication with stakeholders and the management of a team or teams of coders.

For their part, programmers typically focus on specific tasks within a larger project, and they often specialize in a particular area. Whether you are a programmer or a software engineer, you will need deep knowledge of programming languages, communication and time management skills, and a strong desire to succeed in the tech field.

Computer Programmer vs Software Engineer FAQ