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The differences between senior systems engineers and senior 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 senior systems engineer, becoming a senior systems analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior systems engineer has an average salary of $108,121, which is higher than the $82,717 average annual salary of a senior systems analyst.
The top three skills for a senior systems engineer include architecture, linux and java. The most important skills for a senior systems analyst are project management, java, and sql server.
| Senior Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $108,121 | $82,717 |
| Hourly rate | $51.98 | $39.77 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 166,742 | 154,569 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
A senior systems analyst is responsible for analyzing IT systems and networks, modifying existing systems for better optimization, and designing efficient technology systems from clients' specifications and business needs. Senior systems analysts regularly inspect the performance of the system networks, ensuring its efficiency and accuracy to support daily operations. They perform troubleshooting, upgrade network infrastructures, and maintain the highest security of the database. A senior systems analyst must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry and a strong command of system languages to mitigate system complexities and improve network processes.
Senior systems engineers and senior systems analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Average salary | $108,121 | $82,717 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $141,000 | Between $63,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Roku | Credit Karma |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a senior systems engineer and a senior systems analyst in terms of educational background:
| Senior Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | 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 senior systems engineers' and senior systems analysts' demographics:
| Senior Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 72.2% Female, 27.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |