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The differences between managers, systems engineering and senior systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a manager, systems engineering, becoming a senior systems engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a manager, systems engineering has an average salary of $130,127, which is higher than the $108,121 average annual salary of a senior systems engineer.
The top three skills for a manager, systems engineering include systems engineering, architecture and DOD. The most important skills for a senior systems engineer are architecture, linux, and java.
| Manager, Systems Engineering | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $130,127 | $108,121 |
| Hourly rate | $62.56 | $51.98 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 174,962 | 166,742 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
A systems engineering manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of the company's technology systems and network infrastructure. System engineering managers inspect the output deliverables of computer systems, identifying process improvement techniques to improve optimal performance and maintain high-quality results. They handle the department's budget and allocate adequate resources to support project management operations and requirements. A systems engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, handling technical complexities, and configuring system management tools.
A senior systems engineer specializes in overseeing network systems, management tools, software, and hardware within a company or an organization. Their primary responsibility is to install, maintain, and resolve complex system issues using their years of extensive knowledge and expertise. They can also provide insights, troubleshooting, and technical support should it be needed. Furthermore, as a senior systems engineer, it is also their responsibility to lead, supervise, and coordinate with a team of skilled system engineers while in adherence to company policies and regulations.
Managers, systems engineering and senior systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager, Systems Engineering | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $130,127 | $108,121 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $176,000 | Between $82,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Pure Storage | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a manager, systems engineering and a senior systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manager, Systems Engineering | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between managers, systems engineering' and senior systems engineers' demographics:
| Manager, Systems Engineering | Senior Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |