It goes without saying that our day-to-day lives are dominated by computers and software. It’s no wonder that computer science and software engineering are two of the most in-demand skills in 2026. While both fields draw on similar technical skills and even belong to the same broad domain, there are key differences you should know before delving deep.
This blog post compares the career paths you could follow while pursuing computer science and software engineering and how they differ. Let’s get in!
Computer Engineering vs. Software Engineering: Key Differences
If you’re wondering, should I choose software engineering or computer science? Understand how each profession differs in terms of approach and end goal.
Computer engineers primarily study and theorise the hardware and software aspects of computer systems and their components. Computer science is theory-heavy, covering topics like:
- Algorithms
- Data structures
- Database systems
- Monitoring systems
- Machine learning
- Operating systems and networks
- Computational logic
As a computer scientist, you’ll learn to:
- Monitor new or existing software systems
- Create software programs
- Test software programs
- Write computer programs compatible with hardware systems
On the other hand, software engineering focuses on the practical designing and building of software programs. Software engineers are responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software applications using real-world tools like Git, Docker, and Agile workflows.
Software engineers collaborate with clients and end-to-end users to understand their needs and get feedback. They are tasked with writing clean, scalable code that pairs with technical constraints.
Job Opportunities
Computer scientists and software engineers can take up numerous roles and titles. Computer science jobs are available in numerous fields, ranging from finance to health care. Examples of job titles include:
- Software developer
- IT manager
- IT project manager
- Web developer
- Help desk analyst
- Information security analyst
- Hardware engineer
Software engineers can work with private companies or offer services as freelancers. Examples of software engineer jobs include:
- Game developer
- DevOpsengineer
- Full-stack engineer
- Back-end developer
- Quality assurance engineer
- Data engineer
- Systems architect
Overall Job Outlook
Both computer science and software engineering fields are growing in popularity as numerous industries demand technological advancements.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer science employment is expected to grow by nearly 20% between 2024 and 2034. Moreover, computer scientists are in high demand in research and emerging tech fields
On the other hand, software engineering roles, including data analysts, quality assurance engineers, and game developers, are expected to grow by 15% from 2024 to 2034. If you’re looking for a high-paying job in a tech-heavy company, software engineering offers a faster entry point. Check out software engineering jobs at Intuit to explore further responsibilities.
Salary
Next, let’s compare how much computer scientists and software engineers make. Since there is a wide range of career possibilities within these two fields, there is no one-size-fits-all amount.
According to the BLS, the median salary for software developers is around $131,450. Meanwhile, computer and information research scientists earn a median annual salary of about $140,910.
