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The differences between computer systems designers and computer engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a computer systems designer and a computer engineer. Additionally, a computer engineer has an average salary of $96,805, which is higher than the $73,711 average annual salary of a computer systems designer.
The top three skills for a computer systems designer include sql server, control systems and PC. The most important skills for a computer engineer are python, software development, and java.
| Computer Systems Designer | Computer Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,711 | $96,805 |
| Hourly rate | $35.44 | $46.54 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 114,042 | 126,709 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Computer systems designers and computer engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Systems Designer | Computer Engineer | |
| Average salary | $73,711 | $96,805 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $98,000 | Between $70,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Waymo |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a computer systems designer and a computer engineer in terms of educational background:
| Computer Systems Designer | Computer Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between computer systems designers' and computer engineers' demographics:
| Computer Systems Designer | Computer Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 10.9% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 15.0% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |