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The differences between configuration engineers and configuration managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a configuration engineer, becoming a configuration manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a configuration manager has an average salary of $112,553, which is higher than the $101,024 average annual salary of a configuration engineer.
The top three skills for a configuration engineer include python, unix and java. The most important skills for a configuration manager are database, version control, and infrastructure.
| Configuration Engineer | Configuration Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $101,024 | $112,553 |
| Hourly rate | $48.57 | $54.11 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 202,945 | 5,071 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Configuration Engineer specializes in designing and developing computer systems and products. Among their responsibilities include understanding the company's needs, performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with fellow engineers and experts, developing blueprints and prototypes, and creating test structures to be the basis for improvement. They may gather and analyze data from existing projects to identify their strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, as a configuration engineer, it is essential to monitor the progress of staff, all while implementing safety policies and standards.
A configuration manager is in charge of spearheading configuration management procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to optimize operations, coordinating with supervisors and analysts in establishing guidelines, and addressing various issues, resolving them promptly and effectively. They must also manage budgets, schedule audits, monitor the progress of every operation, and recommend improvements as needed. Furthermore, as a configuration manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Configuration engineers and configuration managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Configuration Engineer | Configuration Manager | |
| Average salary | $101,024 | $112,553 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $132,000 | Between $77,000 And $164,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | PayPal | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a configuration engineer and a configuration manager in terms of educational background:
| Configuration Engineer | Configuration Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between configuration engineers' and configuration managers' demographics:
| Configuration Engineer | Configuration Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.6% Female, 19.4% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |