Have you been thinking that Software Engineers and Software Developers are the same? That one can interchangeably use the title depending on the job he is applying for? Well, truth be told, Software Engineers and Software Developers are interrelated but they perform different tasks.
The two concepts are so confusing that some fail to see the differences. However, there are several notable things that one position can do while the other cannot. In case you need software developed for your business but you are unsure who to hire, it is important to know what the differences are. To help you understand, let’s distinguish each position. If you want to be a software developer or engineer you would be wondering about the software developer/ engineer salary in India. This blog would enlighten you about it.
Software engineers are responsible for the complete life cycle of a new or modified software product, from research and design to implementation, training and support. We can outline several of the main tasks performed by a software engineer:
What are the Concepts, knowledge, capabilities of Software Engineers?
A software engineer is responsible for developing software programs by looking at the engineering aspect. You might ask, how can one impose engineering concepts to a program when it doesn’t have mass or weight? Although you have a point, you have to consider that each program is used to execute a particular plan, such as building a structure.
The software engineer should have the engineering capabilities to cover all areas that the construction needs. He has to apply his technical and scientific knowledge and utilize laws and resources to implicate a software that adheres to the preferences and needs of specified criteria.
A software engineer uses metrics which measure the efficacy of a particular project, therefore, foreseeing probable problems. With that, these can all be mitigated by formulating viable solutions.
Most employers prefer graduates with a degree in a relevant subject such as computer science, software engineering, physics, mathematics or electronics. For graduates without computing experience or an appropriate qualification, a postgraduate IT conversion course can be useful.
Based on the hierarchy of the position, of course, Software Engineer is ranked higher compared to a developer. In projects, he is required to know about the program he is trying to develop. He is also required to create a detailed strategy on how he wants it to turn out. Software developer / engineer salary in India depends upon the experience and skills you have.
Contrary to the common opinion, the Software Developer is not just only responsible for writing codes. Among the developer’s tasks are:
The best software developers are creative and have the technical expertise to carry out innovative ideas. They should have enough experience to have seen problems before and to know what worked and what did not. The Software Developer is required to follow a software development methodology and should be skilled in debugging and modifying the software program so that it matches the client’s preferences.
Most employers will expect one to have a relevant computing qualification or degree, however there are companies that run trainee programs. It is also essential that the person stays up to date with the fast paced IT industry as new developments are always appearing
Developers can work in systems software or in applications such as those for mobile devices, but their duties are similar in many cases.
Developers who work in systems software are paid somewhat more than those who work in applications.
Median Annual Salary: ₹ 8,156,747.50 (₹3,929.53 /hour)
Top 10% Annual Salary: More than ₹ 1,24,06,104.72 (₹5,964.53 /hour)
Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than ₹49,59,305.91 (₹2,384.73/hour)
A Tier 4 company (typical Solutions company with 100 employees) would pay anywhere between 15 - 20 k per month
A tier 3 Company (Services company with 5-10 years industry and 500+ employees) would pay anywhere between 20k - 25k
A tier 2 Company (Services company with more than 20 years industry experience and 1000-5000 employees) would pay 25k - 30k
A tier 1 Company (Services company in the range of Infosys - Wipro) pays around the same 25 - 30k
In Products company the payscale is slightly better. A fresher to 1 year experience makes anywhere between 35k - 40k per month.
Some of the startups with good investment backing pay equally well but they are far too less.
The payscale also differs on Technology (Java vs. Microsoft) and and domain (Apps vs. Web)
Education, Training & Certification of software developers?
This profession requires education and training, but certification isn't necessary.
Education: Software developers typically have a bachelor's degree in computer science and a strong set of programming skills. Students studying computer science should focus on classes related to building software.
Internship: Internships are highly recommended because they provide both hands-on training and insight into various industries, as well as exposure to various programming languages. A firm knowledge of industry best practices and emerging trends in software development is essential.
Certifications course would help you to get the highest pay in India. Certifications play a vital role in software developer / engineer salary in India.
A few qualities and skills can help you become successful as a software developer.
Creativity and innovation: Yours should be the minds behind new software capabilities, even when others say it can't be done.
Interpersonal and communication skills: You won't be working in a void. This job often involves collaboration with a team, and you'll have to be able to concisely and clearly communicate instructions to others.
Analytical skills: You'll have to match improvements and creations to users' and clients' needs.
Concentration and focus: Software development involves numerous and minute interlocking pieces. You can't be prone to distraction if you want to be successful.
Software development is a team endeavor, so you'll be working with and interacting with others on a regular basis. This is the case even if you work from home as some developers do. You must still maintain ongoing communication with others involved in the process, even remotely.
Work Schedule for software developers
Hours can be erratic, depending on deadlines and the project you're working on. This is generally a full-time job at a minimum. Overtime is common. This career won't always stop for weekends and holidays.
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Software engineers have a lot on their plates. A software engineer must:
As you can see by the above list of responsibilities, it takes a special kind of person with a particular set of skills to properly do the job of a software engineer. So in your continuing quest to learn how to become a software engineer, here’s a list of skills and abilities that you need to cultivate to do your best at this challenging but very rewarding career. These skills will help you to get the highest software engineer salary in India.
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That’s quite a skill list. Granted, you don’t have to be an absolute master at each and every one of them in order to become a software engineer, but a good command of most of them will tip the odds in your favor. The more of them you have in your toolbox, the better.
So what steps can you take to become a software engineer?
First off, a solid educational foundation is an enormous help, and a potential employer will want to see this in your background somewhere. Although most companies prefer a four-year degree, you can probably get by with a two-year associate's degree.
Naturally, that degree should be in a major that is relevant to the IT world, such as software systems engineering, computer science, or software engineering technology. A major in journalism or botany won’t get you too far in the world of programming.
Prospective employers like seeing experience in their candidates’ history, or at the very least, possessing a verifiable set of skills in the areas they are looking for. You can do independent study and research into the field, pursue continuing education, or, and this is the most effective option, earning certification. The latter shows an employer verifiable, measurable proof that you possess the needed skills and abilities to do the job.
Mostly for students still attending college, an internship gives you valuable hands-on knowledge and experience while beefing up your skill set. Plus, internships help you build up contacts that can be useful in future career endeavors.
Practice makes perfect, so they say. Learn a couple of languages such as Python , Ruby Javascript, C#, Java, or C++ and teach yourself how to program.
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Sometimes, the best way to start is on the ground floor. According to magazines, software engineering is one of the best entry-level careers around.
Are you curious about what a software engineer's salary looks like? A software engineer in the United States earns an average of $76,192 annually, according to payscale, a range between $52K and $114K. According to US news, the median salary is $101,790. Clearly, there’s a wide range out there, depending on factors such as location, demand, and skill level.
In India, the annual average is Rs 482,239, according to payscale. The same site tells us that a software engineer in China earns an average CNY 189,000 annually, C$ 71,000 in Canada, and 4.6 million yen in Japan.
The next important thing you should know in your pursuit of a software engineer career is which companies are hiring software engineers these days. If you’re looking at Silicon Valley, heavy-hitters such as Amazon, Yahoo, Facebook, Intel, Google, IBM, Apple, and Oracle are looking for software engineers.
Factors that Decide Software Developer Salary
Factors that influence the salary of a software developer
A combination of all the above factors determines your pay. For example, you could be in the US, but a service-based company cannot give you as much as a product company can. Same way, if you are working on web technologies, you will have the edge over others who might be working on something not that popular.
For freshers, companies come to college campuses to recruit, and other than computer science students, they also pick electronics, communication, and electrical students, who have a basic knowledge of c, c++ (sometimes Java) and can write simple programs.
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However, since they would not know much about other aspects of computing, some companies pay them less than they would pay to recruit a student from a CS background.
Level of experience
The above graph, based on location, is not for entry-level software developers. It is the average salary of those who have above 5 years of experience in the field of development, project management and possibly client interaction. Software developer /Engineer salary in India depends upon the experience you have wherever in the world you are.
As a fresher in India, you can get up to ₹37,16,175.00 starting package. Major companies like Microsoft, Google pay anywhere between ₹48,30,224.75 to a fresher. Here is the average salary paid in the US for different levels of experience -
Experience (in years) | Salary | ||
0-2 years | $50k-$62k | ||
2-5 years | $60k-$82k | ||
5-9 years | $79k-$105k | ||
9-19 years | $98k-$115k | ||
20 years and above | $115k-$130k |
Some companies absorb testers into development based on individual performance. However, the salary hike is a little less compared to the developers for a few years until they are fully on-board with the roles and responsibilities.
In some companies, even if you have prior experience of say 5 years in the IT industry in roles other than a software developer, you might be considered as a fresher and given the package only a little higher than a software developer with 2 years’ experience.
Type of company
Product companies generally pay more than service companies. Service companies rely on clients to set the amount for the entire projects and release the payments according to the funds available. In a product-based company that is not the case. Generally, US-based product companies rollout the best salaries to their counterparts in India.
Also, you would be working closer to your core skills in a product company whereas, in a service company, you will have a chance to explore multiple skills. If you are a freelancer or a consultant, you will be paid more than an employee, but again the pay will vary from project to project. Some projects can fetch more money than others.
Same way, you will have more learning opportunities and good projects in a start-up firm, however, the salary will be quite less.
That said, Indian counterparts of some companies like Microsoft, Google and Facebook provide good salaries for both products as well as service-based roles. Hardware and networking companies pay about 9-10lakhs to freshers.
Working as a software developer in the finance industry, for example, banks like JP Morgan also pays off well. Companies like TCS, Infosys, Accenture are purely client-based, and hence pay around 4.5 lakhs to 4.72 lakhs approximately. These companies absorb the cream of the lot and offer them good pay in the US.
Some of the top-paying companies in the US are –
Google - In Google, the median salary is around $125k. If you are working in Google India, you would be paid around 9-10 lakhs as a fresher, and about 14 lakhs if you have at least 2 years’ experience. The salary of a senior software engineer can range anywhere from $86k-101k per annum.
Microsoft - One of the best employers, Microsoft pays about $105k-$125k for a senior software developer. It is about $86k-$96k per annum to freshers.
Amazon - Amazon pays around $89k to a fresher, which goes to $100k for an experience of 2 years and the minimum salary for SSE (senior software engineer) is $110k. The average base salary can go as high as $122k.
HP - In the US, HP pays anywhere between $84k to $120k to mid-level developers and leads. HP gives good growth to its employees in terms of salary as well as work. You can easily earn more than a million by working hard for 5-6 years in the company.
IBM - IBM gives work flexibility and works from home options. However, job security is less compared to companies like Infosys, which offers considerably lesser salary. As you go up the ladder, you will be able to earn more. IBM, US offers about $84k salary to senior developers.
SAP Labs - One of the highest paying companies, SAP labs has an average pay-out of $97k for freshers. With some experience and skill set, the salary can go more than $126k.
Goldman Sachs - GS offers a good amount of $65k to software developers and about $95k to senior developers. The workload is quite high in the company, though and you will be busy as ever. An average employee in the US can get upto $370000, which is among the highest in the industry.
Companies | Software developer salary per annum in Rupee(Freshers) |
Rs.3,68,000 | |
TCS | Rs.3,42,371 |
CTS | Rs.3,00,840 |
Amazon | Rs. 3,30,000 |
IBM | Rs. 3,49,800 |
Infosys | Rs. 3,21,600 |
Accenture | Rs.3,36,000 |
Microsoft | Rs.3,60,000 |
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Size of the company
In the previous section, we discussed that product companies pay more than service-based companies. Even within the service companies, a well-established company with more industry experience will pay you less than a start-up or a company that is just setting its foot in the market.
Eventually, as the company size grows and stability increases, most companies recruit more developers which means the allocated amount gets distributed accordingly.
A tier-1 company, i.e. a company of the size of Infosys, TCS, Wipro, who also do bulk recruitments, generally pay about $52k per annum for a fresher. As these are big names, they give a good kick-start to your career.
A tier-2 company, or companies that have less than 5000 employees and are predominantly service-based, pay around $65k to freshers.
Tier-3 companies, with 500-1000 employees and about 10 years of industry experience pay around $80k to freshers. These companies hire skilled resources and provide good exposure to varied types of work.
A tier-4 service-based company, with 100 employees has the best of work but will pay less than all the above – somewhere between $42k-54k per annum. Their focus is to get more clients and get the best work done with less cost and time.
Skillset
Most companies – particularly product companies look for strong technical skills in a software developer – programming languages like Java, PHP, Python, Laravel, Ruby, C++, JavaScript, Node.js, etc… are a must.
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For example, you might have learned C in your graduation, however, a person with Java or Python knowledge will be given preference over you because the demand for these technologies is more in the market.
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For example, a full stack developer in India can easily earn about 12-14 lakhs per annum, whereas an only front-end or back-end developer might be able to get only 8-10 lakhs per annum. Most product companies like Microsoft, PayPal, Netflix, Walmart, etc… prefer a full-stack (mean stack), developer.
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Work location
Last, but not least, work location is an important factor that affects the salary of a software developer. As we have seen in the location graph, currently, the highest paying location for a software developer (including fresher) is the United States.
Companies like Qualcomm, Walmart, Ericsson, etc… are among the top payers in the US who pay around $105,000 to $129,000 base salary. Within the US, San Francisco, Seattle, San Jose, and Oakland are the best locations for software developers. .
Within India, the highest paying jobs are in Gurgaon, followed by Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad in that same order. A software developer in Gurgaon earns 24% more salary than anywhere else in India.
Locations | Software developer salary per annum in India(fresher) |
Chennai | Rs.2,79,600 |
Bangalore | Rs.3,12,000 |
Pune | Rs.3,03,840 |
Gurgaon | Rs.3,36,000 |
Mumbai | Rs.2,94,144 |
Ahmedabad | Rs.2,76,000 |
USA is the best-paying country for software engineers — $107K on average. The most well-paid city is San Jose. The average software developer salary here is $147,52. Switzerland is the second best-paying country after the USA with the average software engineer salary reaching $83K per year.
The Average Software Engineer Salary in Europe 2023
The highest software engineer salary in Europe is paid in Switzerland - $88,773, Norway - $60,934, and Denmark - $66,878 per year.
The average software engineer salary in Germany is $55K, while in the Netherlands the salary falls to $51K per year. The average software developer salary in Sweden, Finland, and France ranges from $41K to $45K per year. Average software developer salary in the UK is $40K and is the lowest among other countries.
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Switzerland pays the highest junior software developer salary - $72K, while senior software developers earn $105K (PayScale). In the USA, the junior software developer's salary is $68K and reaches $121,521 for senior developers.
The greatest difference between senior and junior software developer salary happens in the US, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, and New Zealand — from $29K to $34K. France features the smallest difference between entry-level and senior software engineer salary — only $14K.
The average software engineer salary in the US is $107K per year. A junior software engineer in the US earns about $101,178, while senior software engineers can expect $118,898 per year.
In terms of skills, iOS, Android, Python, and JavaScript developers are the highest-paid.
Front end developer salary in the US is $106K, while Full-Stack engineers make $113,3.
The average software engineer salary in Germany is $54,705, with junior software engineers making $48,929, and senior — $68,508.
Engineers with 1-4 years of experience earn $55,457, with 5-9 years of experience — $63,069 when software engineers with 10-12 years of experience are paid $67,418 on average.
In Berlin, software engineers are paid more than the national average — $58,624.
Software Developer Salary in other countries
Software Developer Salary in Sweden in 2023
The average software developer salary in Sweden is 469,044 SEK. The average junior developer salary in Sweden is 433,493 SEK per year, middle developers earn 508,043 SEK, while senior software engineer salary in Sweden is 525,000 SEK.
Software developer salary in Sweden by programming language:
Software Developer Salary in the Netherlands in 2023
The average software developer salary in the Netherlands is $51,268. Junior software developers earn $37,188, while senior software developer salary in the Netherlands can reach $66,428. Software developers with 1-4 years of experience earn $46,758, with 5-9 — $56,544, while software engineers with 10-19 years of experience are paid $64,156.
Software Developer Salary in Australia in 2023
The average software developer salary in Australia is AU$43,245. Junior engineer salary in Austrlia is AU$48,800, while middle software developers earn AU$72,381. The average salary of a senior software engineer in Australia is AU$130,040 per year. Software engineers in Sydney are paid AU$75,598.
SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND DEVELOPER SALARY IN INDIA
Average Software Developer Salary in India
Avg. Salary Show Hourly Rate - ₹491,354
BONUS - ₹49,025
COMMISSION - ₹13,546
PROFIT SHARING - ₹33,322
The average salary for a Software Developer in India is ₹491,354.
Salary - ₹205k - ₹1m
Bonus - ₹6k - ₹195k
Profit Sharing - ₹2k - ₹305k
Commission - ₹8k - ₹15k
Total Pay - ₹215k - ₹1m
The top respondents for the job title Software Developer are from the companies Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Amdocs, Inc,. and Cognizant. Reported salaries are highest at SAP Labs India where the average pay is ₹921,995.
Other companies that offer high salaries for this role include Amdocs, Inc,. and Cognizant, earning around ₹658,191 and ₹611,765, respectively. Accenture pays the lowest at around ₹441,350. Accenture Technology Solutions and Tata Consultancy Services Limited also pay on the lower end of the scale, paying ₹453,811 and ₹461,501, respectively.
What Are Popular Skills for Software Developers and Pay Scale ?
JAVA-- ₹530,220
JavaScript - ₹478,400
SQL - ₹465,760
C# - ₹440,660
.NET - ₹435,676
Years of Experience
Entry Level - 10.2%
Early Career - 67.6%
Mid Career - 15.5%
Experienced - 2.3%
Late Career - 0.1%
Average Software Engineer Salary in India
Avg. SalaryShow Hourly Rate - ₹515,120
BONUS - ₹45,873
COMMISSION - ₹10,000
PROFIT SHARING - ₹40,000
Salary - ₹250k - ₹1m
Bonus - ₹10k - ₹200k
Profit Sharing - ₹2k - ₹490k
Commission - ₹2k - ₹200k
Total Pay - ₹270k - ₹1m
The top respondents for the job title Software Engineer are from the companies Tata Consultancy Services Limited, HCL Technologies Ltd. and Accenture Technology Solutions. Reported salaries are highest at Cisco Systems Inc where the average pay is ₹1,246,679.
Other companies that offer high salaries for this role include Accenture Technology Solutions and Accenture, earning around ₹454,933 and ₹447,886, respectively. Capgemini pays the lowest at around ₹328,315. Techmahindra Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd. also pay on the lower end of the scale, paying ₹382,426 and ₹387,826, respectively.
What Are Popular Skills for Software Engineers?
JAVA - ₹550,596
SQL - ₹491,400
JAVA SCRIPT - ₹520,340
C# - ₹500,135
Python - ₹620,130
Years of Experience
Entry Level - 10.3%
Early Career - 67.4%
Mid Career - 13.9%
Experienced - 2.9%
Late Career - 0.2%
This blog would have made you come out of confusion about the highest pay jobs in India. If you were wondering about which one to pick either software engineer or developer according to the salary package. Now, you could have made your mind clear in that.
The average compensation for a system software developer is $589,581. With less than a year of experience, an entry-level system software developer can make roughly $460,000 per year. System software developers with 1 to 4 years of experience may expect to earn roughly $531,792 a year.
Being a software engineer in India is a dream come true for many, but for others, it is a curse. A Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer's average annual pay is Rs 429,947. The average person in this position has less than ten years of experience.
At general, salaries in IT services organisations are thought to range between 1.2 to 2 years of expertise. For 5 years of experience, that would imply a salary of between INR 6,00,000 and INR 10,00,000 per year.
For example, if you enjoy collaborating with others and coming up with innovative solutions, you might want to seek a career as a software engineer. Software engineering, on the other hand, may be a better fit if you prefer to deal with a wide range of engineering principles.
Programming is a demanding job because it is a time-limited job. The programmer is pressed to complete their task for their client in the allotted period. Because programmers must deal with computers, they are more stressed.This is the one thing that makes programming a difficult task.
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