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The differences between lead systems engineers and systems analysts 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 systems analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a lead systems engineer has an average salary of $119,705, which is higher than the $75,383 average annual salary of a systems analyst.
The top three skills for a lead systems engineer include systems engineering, architecture and infrastructure. The most important skills for a systems analyst are customer service, project management, and troubleshoot.
| Lead Systems Engineer | Systems Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $119,705 | $75,383 |
| Hourly rate | $57.55 | $36.24 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 186,392 | 141,289 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| 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.
A systems analyst is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of technology systems and analyzing its efficiency for business operations and clients' needs. Systems analysts create specific modifications to operating systems and help design solutions and processes. Other tasks include managing the system's workflow, diagnosing and detecting malfunctions, performing troubleshooting, and assisting clients' with their concerns. A systems analyst must have excellent command with programming languages and the knowledge with the technology industry to understand systems' complexities and processes.
Lead systems engineers and systems analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Systems Engineer | Systems Analyst | |
| Average salary | $119,705 | $75,383 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $158,000 | Between $58,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead systems engineer and a systems analyst in terms of educational background:
| Lead Systems Engineer | Systems Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between lead systems engineers' and systems analysts' demographics:
| Lead Systems Engineer | Systems Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| 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, 10.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |