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The differences between data center engineers and senior systems 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 data center engineer and a senior systems engineer. Additionally, a senior systems engineer has an average salary of $108,121, which is higher than the $102,788 average annual salary of a data center engineer.
The top three skills for a data center engineer include data centers, troubleshoot and HVAC. The most important skills for a senior systems engineer are architecture, linux, and java.
| Data Center Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,788 | $108,121 |
| Hourly rate | $49.42 | $51.98 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 178,277 | 166,742 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A senior systems engineer specializes in overseeing network systems, management tools, software, and hardware within a company or an organization. Their primary responsibility is to install, maintain, and resolve complex system issues using their years of extensive knowledge and expertise. They can also provide insights, troubleshooting, and technical support should it be needed. Furthermore, as a senior systems engineer, it is also their responsibility to lead, supervise, and coordinate with a team of skilled system engineers while in adherence to company policies and regulations.
Data center engineers and senior systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Center Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,788 | $108,121 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $147,000 | Between $82,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a data center engineer and a senior systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Data Center Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between data center engineers' and senior systems engineers' demographics:
| Data Center Engineer | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% |
| 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, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |