Within the bustling industry of tech, there are a ton of different roles that all sound just about the same. Right?

From software engineering to programming, web development to data science to computer science, one might think these roles are interchangeable. Though they share some key similarities, they’re fundamentally different.

Two roles that often get mistaken for one another are data science and engineering. We’re looking today at what makes them both similar and different. Depending on what you want to do, this could inform any training or education you complete prior to looking for a job or changing careers.

Data science vs. software engineering

Software engineers, aptly named, use engineering and programming skills to create software on mobile devices, web applications, and other systems, games, or web pages. They use code in a variety of languages to not only create said applications, but continuously iterate and bug proof.

The job growth for software engineers is certainly one of the highest in tech, and moreover in any industry across the globe. Software engineer salaries are some of the highest in tech too, netting an average salary of $118,217 per year for all levels across the country (according to Glassdoor).

Data scientists and their roles are slightly more nuanced. A lot of what they do involves software engineering principles and skills, but with a finer lens on data analysis, market trends, statistics, and a creation of algorithms or data sets.

Data science job growth is equally as strong as it is for software engineering, but the average earning potential is slightly higher due to the more analytical nature of the role. In many cases, this involves additional schooling.

Similarities: Data science vs. software engineering

Overall, data science and software engineering share some key similarities. While not entirely transferable (in that, you couldn’t necessarily apply to both types of jobs with the exact same experience), there are some overlapping skills and responsibilities.

Algorithms, algorithms, algorithms.

According to Investopedia,

An algorithm is a set of instructions for solving a problem or accomplishing a task. One   common example of an algorithm is a recipe