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The differences between systems administrators and systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a systems administrator and a systems engineer. Additionally, a systems engineer has an average salary of $82,834, 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 systems engineer are python, linux, and C++.
| Systems Administrator | Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,156 | $82,834 |
| Hourly rate | $37.09 | $39.82 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 134,500 | 145,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.
Systems administrators and systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Administrator | Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,156 | $82,834 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $100,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a systems administrator and a systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Administrator | Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between systems administrators' and systems engineers' demographics:
| Systems Administrator | Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |