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The differences between communications systems engineers and lead systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a communications systems engineer has an average salary of $127,832, which is higher than the $119,705 average annual salary of a lead systems engineer.
The top three skills for a communications systems engineer include RF, communications systems and C++. The most important skills for a lead systems engineer are systems engineering, architecture, and infrastructure.
| Communications Systems Engineer | Lead Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $127,832 | $119,705 |
| Hourly rate | $61.46 | $57.55 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 105,092 | 186,392 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Communication systems engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for developing communication systems and general electrical designs for their clients. These engineers are required to prepare communication designs, including diagrams, instructions, and the cost of materials for large-scale telecommunications projects. They must undergo certification training so that they can perform maintenance on communication and navigation systems. Communication systems engineers must also work with the development and test engineering to select for proper communication system components and to ensure that features are working properly.
A lead systems engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the systems infrastructure and improving the stability of the operating systems to support business operations. Lead systems engineers install and upgrade software applications and ensure that the technical strategies meet the quality standards and business requirements. They also enhance the performance of the existing systems, configuring features for optimization. A lead systems engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in supporting the end-users with technical failures and identifying accurate resolutions.
Communications systems engineers and lead systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Systems Engineer | Lead Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $127,832 | $119,705 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $179,000 | Between $90,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a communications systems engineer and a lead systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Communications Systems Engineer | Lead Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between communications systems engineers' and lead systems engineers' demographics:
| Communications Systems Engineer | Lead Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 12.7% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 12.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |