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The differences between systems administrators and software 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 systems administrator, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, which is higher than the $77,156 average annual salary of a systems administrator.
The top three skills for a systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and windows server. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Systems Administrator | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,156 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $37.09 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 134,500 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures. They are responsible for installing, configuring, or updating network systems, software, and hardware. They also monitor the different systems and troubleshoot any issues that users may encounter. Systems administrators manage the access of users, ensure the security of the network, and address any challenges that users may have. They conduct repairs and routine maintenance to ensure that the systems in place are in the best shape.
A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Systems administrators and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Administrator | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,156 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $100,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a systems administrator and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Administrator | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between systems administrators' and software engineers' demographics:
| Systems Administrator | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |