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The differences between firmware engineers and advanced 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 firmware engineer and an advanced systems engineer. Additionally, an advanced systems engineer has an average salary of $109,257, which is higher than the $97,183 average annual salary of a firmware engineer.
The top three skills for a firmware engineer include python, C and C++. The most important skills for an advanced systems engineer are DOD, C++, and management system.
| Firmware Engineer | Advanced Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,183 | $109,257 |
| Hourly rate | $46.72 | $52.53 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 99,014 | 220,210 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The job of firmware engineers focuses on the hardware from which the software runs. They play an important role in supporting the life cycle of products from its development to implementation. Their duties typically include testing the product properly and troubleshooting technical issues in collaboration with other engineering personnel, evaluating the performance of the system and ensuring that it adheres to the company's standards, and analyzing the design and needs of a system. Firmware engineers are also responsible for improvising the software as requested by clients.
An advanced systems engineer develops and upgrades a company's systems, whether those are systems the company uses internally or provides for clients externally. A systems engineer monitors and evaluates applications, software, and productivity systems. Their goal is to continually improve all programs that a company uses. Working alongside the IT department, they monitor feedback, provide suggestions and recommendations, and order upgrades when necessary.
Firmware engineers and advanced systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Firmware Engineer | Advanced Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,183 | $109,257 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $129,000 | Between $84,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Idaho |
| Best paying company | Meta | Warner Bros. |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Retail |
There are a few differences between a firmware engineer and an advanced systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Firmware Engineer | Advanced Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between firmware engineers' and advanced systems engineers' demographics:
| Firmware Engineer | Advanced Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.6% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.9% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |