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The differences between engineers of system development and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an engineer of system development, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer of system development has an average salary of $112,462, which is higher than the $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for an engineer of system development include java, web services and C++. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Engineer Of System Development | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,462 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $54.07 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 363,626 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
In the information technology industry, an engineer of systems development specializes in designing and developing systems and networks according to the company's needs. Their responsibilities typically involve conducting research and analysis, developing prototypes and test structures, troubleshooting errors, studying the feedback from clients and employees, analyzing existing systems to identify areas needing improvement, and implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, as an engineer of systems development, it is essential to lead and manage teams to reach goals, providing technical support as needed.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Engineers of system development and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineer Of System Development | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,462 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $152,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an engineer of system development and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineer Of System Development | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between engineers of system development' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Engineer Of System Development | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.5% Female, 22.5% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |