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The differences between applications support engineers and systems support engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an applications support engineer, becoming a systems support engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an applications support engineer has an average salary of $89,928, which is higher than the $82,561 average annual salary of a systems support engineer.
The top three skills for an applications support engineer include java, application support and database. The most important skills for a systems support engineer are linux, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Applications Support Engineer | Systems Support Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,928 | $82,561 |
| Hourly rate | $43.23 | $39.69 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 222,780 | 182,434 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
An applications support engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and optimal performance of the application and network systems to support business operations and functions. Applications support engineers work on the installation of updates, upgrade system infrastructure, and resolve technical process issues and gaps. They also analyze the condition of existing applications and modify procedures to improve stability and configuration. An applications support engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills to identify failure sources and create resolution manuals to prevent downtime reoccurrence.
Systems support engineers are information technology professionals who are responsible for building and maintaining the IT infrastructure of an organization. They are required to provide network administration and technical support to identify complex problem issues and come up with solutions to solve them. They must assist the system support engineers in accomplishing any projects they are working with. They must troubleshoot servers, personal computers, and peripheral equipment while liaising with their customers. They must also create and maintain user accounts and implement group policy management through an active directory.
Applications support engineers and systems support engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Applications Support Engineer | Systems Support Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,928 | $82,561 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $120,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | ICE Mortgage Technology | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an applications support engineer and a systems support engineer in terms of educational background:
| Applications Support Engineer | Systems Support Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between applications support engineers' and systems support engineers' demographics:
| Applications Support Engineer | Systems Support Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.8% Female, 19.2% | Male, 89.5% Female, 10.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 11.5% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |