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The differences between application engineers and systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an application engineer, becoming a systems engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an application engineer has an average salary of $92,921, which is higher than the $82,834 average annual salary of a systems engineer.
The top three skills for an application engineer include technical support, java and C++. The most important skills for a systems engineer are python, linux, and C++.
| Application Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,921 | $82,834 |
| Hourly rate | $44.67 | $39.82 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 111,338 | 145,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs. They also generate ideas and locate other business opportunities by analyzing current trends in the technology market that would help build revenues and increase profitability for the company. An application engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, software application processes, and general technology disciplines.
Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.
Application engineers and systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Application Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,921 | $82,834 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Morgan Lewis | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an application engineer and a systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Application Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between application engineers' and systems engineers' demographics:
| Application Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 11.5% White, 74.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 8% |