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The differences between senior desktop engineers and senior infrastructure engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior desktop engineer, becoming a senior infrastructure engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior infrastructure engineer has an average salary of $117,765, which is higher than the $114,786 average annual salary of a senior desktop engineer.
The top three skills for a senior desktop engineer include SCCM, powershell and infrastructure. The most important skills for a senior infrastructure engineer are cloud, AWS, and linux.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Senior Infrastructure Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $114,786 | $117,765 |
| Hourly rate | $55.19 | $56.62 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 264,973 | 78,855 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A senior desktop engineer identifies problems within computer systems and troubleshoots technical issues. They may also be responsible for creating software images, developing software, and updating schedules. This position requires knowledge in network troubleshooting, DNA storage, and problem-solving skills.
A senior infrastructure engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and infrastructures based on client preferences and industry standards. They have the duty to identify and understand the project's needs, streamline project requirements, produce drafts, create prototypes and models, and establish tests to identify potential issues and ensure the projects' quality. Additionally, a senior infrastructure engineer has the authority to make decisions, train and supervise junior engineers, establish goals and timelines, provide technical support, and implement policies and guidelines.
Senior desktop engineers and senior infrastructure engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Senior Infrastructure Engineer | |
| Average salary | $114,786 | $117,765 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $151,000 | Between $87,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Bloomberg | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a senior desktop engineer and a senior infrastructure engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Senior Infrastructure Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior desktop engineers' and senior infrastructure engineers' demographics:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Senior Infrastructure Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 10.7% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |