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The differences between data center engineers and operations 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 data center engineer, becoming an operations engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a data center engineer has an average salary of $102,788, which is higher than the $91,522 average annual salary of an operations engineer.
The top three skills for a data center engineer include data centers, troubleshoot and HVAC. The most important skills for an operations engineer are python, cloud, and AWS.
| Data Center Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,788 | $91,522 |
| Hourly rate | $49.42 | $44.00 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 178,277 | 155,188 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A data center engineer is responsible for managing the efficiency and optimal performance of the network data systems of an organization. Data center engineers ensure the safety and security of the database to prevent unauthorized access and suspicious activities within the network that may pose risks for the business. They assess the navigation of the servers, conduct regular maintenance, and perform immediate troubleshooting for glitches to avoid any delays in the operation. A data center engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in writing data resolution for reference and configuration.
An operations engineer is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the operations of a company are working properly in industries such as manufacturing or shipping. Operations engineers are required to handle repairs or upgrades to the company's machinery and coordinate with department heads to assist in fine-tuning their operations system. When they have upgraded their system, operations engineers should conduct training with managers as well as employees and other workers. They are also required to examine machinery for defects and communicate maintenance schedules with department heads.
Data center engineers and operations engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Center Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,788 | $91,522 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $147,000 | Between $63,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a data center engineer and an operations engineer in terms of educational background:
| Data Center Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between data center engineers' and operations engineers' demographics:
| Data Center Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.0% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 10.6% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |