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The differences between lead systems engineers and staff engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lead systems engineer, becoming a staff engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a lead systems engineer has an average salary of $119,705, which is higher than the $107,530 average annual salary of a staff engineer.
The top three skills for a lead systems engineer include systems engineering, architecture and infrastructure. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Lead Systems Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $119,705 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $57.55 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 186,392 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A lead systems engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the systems infrastructure and improving the stability of the operating systems to support business operations. Lead systems engineers install and upgrade software applications and ensure that the technical strategies meet the quality standards and business requirements. They also enhance the performance of the existing systems, configuring features for optimization. A lead systems engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in supporting the end-users with technical failures and identifying accurate resolutions.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Lead systems engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Systems Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $119,705 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $158,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a lead systems engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Systems Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between lead systems engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Lead Systems Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 12.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |