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The differences between database engineers and systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a database engineer, becoming a systems engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a database engineer has an average salary of $104,648, which is higher than the $82,834 average annual salary of a systems engineer.
The top three skills for a database engineer include python, troubleshoot and java. The most important skills for a systems engineer are python, linux, and C++.
| Database Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,648 | $82,834 |
| Hourly rate | $50.31 | $39.82 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 152,951 | 145,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A database engineer is responsible for maintaining the security of an organization's network databases, preventing unauthorized access and activities, and upgrading data infrastructure. Database engineers manage the volume of stored data, ensuring that the information would not affect the traffic flow and navigation. They also design database according to business requirements and needs, conducting multiple quality checks before releasing the final outputs for high functionality. A database engineer must have excellent technical skills, as well as extensive knowledge of programming languages and database administration, to create efficient system networks.
Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.
Database engineers and systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Database Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $104,648 | $82,834 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $150,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a database engineer and a systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Database Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between database engineers' and systems engineers' demographics:
| Database Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 22.8% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |