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The differences between firmware engineers and systems engineers staff 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 a systems engineer staff. Additionally, a systems engineer staff has an average salary of $129,611, 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 a systems engineer staff are architecture, DOD, and MATLAB.
| Firmware Engineer | Systems Engineer Staff | |
| Yearly salary | $97,183 | $129,611 |
| Hourly rate | $46.72 | $62.31 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 99,014 | 304,494 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
A systems engineer staff is responsible for designing and developing systems and software that optimize business operations, ensuring smooth workflow and client satisfaction. They primarily conduct research and analysis to identify the needs of the company and its clients, examine existing systems to identify areas needing improvements, install applications, and perform regular maintenance checks, providing corrective measures as required. Furthermore, as a systems engineer staff, it is essential to provide technical support within the company, all while implementing its policies and regulations.
Firmware engineers and systems engineers staff have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Firmware Engineer | Systems Engineer Staff | |
| Average salary | $97,183 | $129,611 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $129,000 | Between $95,000 And $175,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a firmware engineer and a systems engineer staff in terms of educational background:
| Firmware Engineer | Systems Engineer Staff | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between firmware engineers' and systems engineers staff' demographics:
| Firmware Engineer | Systems Engineer Staff | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.8% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |