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The differences between computer systems engineers and solutions engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a computer systems engineer, becoming a solutions engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a solutions engineer has an average salary of $95,482, which is higher than the $76,534 average annual salary of a computer systems engineer.
The top three skills for a computer systems engineer include computer system, python and C++. The most important skills for a solutions engineer are cloud, pre sales, and java.
| Computer Systems Engineer | Solutions Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,534 | $95,482 |
| Hourly rate | $36.80 | $45.90 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 149,045 | 123,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Computer systems engineers solve complex problems in network operations. These engineers test the system operations to check for a possible security breach and search for new processes to improve the entire system function. They work with other computer engineers to determine the details needed to design an integrated computer system. Their jobs require communications skills, critical thinking skills, and experience in systems evaluation to perform their duties well. They would also need to have a background in computers, technology and engineering, and computer design.
A solutions engineer is an individual who assists customers in identifying their computer software needs and generates customized business software solutions for them. Solutions engineers collaborate with other department engineers to create practical demonstrations of proposed solutions and showcase them to the other members of the team. They are required to test the installed software and fix programming bugs that create errors with the system. Solutions engineers also maintain customer relations by providing post-installation follow-ups.
Computer systems engineers and solutions engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Systems Engineer | Solutions Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,534 | $95,482 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $98,000 | Between $68,000 And $134,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | ByteDance | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a computer systems engineer and a solutions engineer in terms of educational background:
| Computer Systems Engineer | Solutions Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer systems engineers' and solutions engineers' demographics:
| Computer Systems Engineer | Solutions Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 13.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 10.8% White, 74.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |