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The differences between applications & systems engineers and senior systems 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 & systems engineer, becoming a senior systems engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior systems engineer has an average salary of $108,121, which is higher than the $97,919 average annual salary of an applications & systems engineer.
The top three skills for an applications & systems engineer include application development, C++ and java. The most important skills for a senior systems engineer are architecture, linux, and java.
| Applications & Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,919 | $108,121 |
| Hourly rate | $47.08 | $51.98 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 367,806 | 166,742 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
An applications and systems engineer is an information technology (IT) expert whose responsibilities revolve around designing and developing applications and systems to optimize company operations. They typically perform internal assessments to identify company needs, evaluate existing systems and applications to determine areas needing improvements, establish testing structures, and providing solutions for different IT issues. Furthermore, as an application and systems engineer, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks on IT systems and networks, ensuring efficiency and providing corrective measures as needed.
A senior systems engineer specializes in overseeing network systems, management tools, software, and hardware within a company or an organization. Their primary responsibility is to install, maintain, and resolve complex system issues using their years of extensive knowledge and expertise. They can also provide insights, troubleshooting, and technical support should it be needed. Furthermore, as a senior systems engineer, it is also their responsibility to lead, supervise, and coordinate with a team of skilled system engineers while in adherence to company policies and regulations.
Applications & systems engineers and senior systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Applications & Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,919 | $108,121 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $129,000 | Between $82,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Roku | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between an applications & systems engineer and a senior systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Applications & Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between applications & systems engineers' and senior systems engineers' demographics:
| Applications & Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |