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The differences between field system engineers and desktop 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 field system engineer and a desktop engineer. Additionally, a desktop engineer has an average salary of $102,893, which is higher than the $91,282 average annual salary of a field system engineer.
The top three skills for a field system engineer include PLC, troubleshoot and customer sites. The most important skills for a desktop engineer are customer service, SCCM, and troubleshoot.
| Field System Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,282 | $102,893 |
| Hourly rate | $43.89 | $49.47 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 145,115 | 87,458 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A field system engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and applications to optimize company operations. Among their responsibilities include identifying and understanding the company's needs, conceptualizing plans, developing prototypes and test structures, troubleshooting and resolving problems, coordinating with fellow engineers, and producing progress reports as needed. They are also responsible for establishing guidelines, safety policies, and standards. Moreover, a field system engineer typically manages a junior team, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A desktop engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of computer systems across the organization to deliver high-performance on business operations and client specifications. Desktop engineers resolve computer desktop issues, including navigation and security complications that create delays in the operational process. They conduct regular maintenance with the computer systems, upgrade network infrastructure, and perform configuration to ensure smooth functionality and resolutions. A desktop engineer should have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, recommending system solutions to avoid the reoccurrence of network issues and glitches.
Field system engineers and desktop engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field System Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Average salary | $91,282 | $102,893 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $126,000 | Between $77,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | F5 | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Finance |
There are a few differences between a field system engineer and a desktop engineer in terms of educational background:
| Field System Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between field system engineers' and desktop engineers' demographics:
| Field System Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 13.6% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |