Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between systems designers and chief engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a systems designer and a chief engineer. Additionally, a chief engineer has an average salary of $108,050, which is higher than the $93,438 average annual salary of a systems designer.
The top three skills for a systems designer include system design, CRM and sales proposals. The most important skills for a chief engineer are HVAC, plumbing, and customer service.
| Systems Designer | Chief Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,438 | $108,050 |
| Hourly rate | $44.92 | $51.95 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,665 | 88,473 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
In the information technology industry, a systems designer specializes in creating systems in adherence to the client or company's needs. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis, gathering and analyzing operational data and client feedback, subjecting designs in a variety of tests, coordinating with engineers, troubleshooting problems, and developing strategies to optimize operations. They may also assess existing systems and design enhancements as needed. Moreover, a systems designer may provide technical support and guidance to staff while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
A chief engineer is responsible for monitoring the engineering department's overall operations, ensuring performance efficiency, and everyone's strict compliance with the safety standards and regulatory procedures. Chief engineers manage the distribution of the tasks to the team, communicate with the clients and management for instructions and specifications, monitor expenses and forecast sales reports, analyze and approve designs, negotiate contracts, and process disputes. A chief engineer must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and exemplary leadership skills to handle the team's performance towards the company's objectives.
Systems designers and chief engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Designer | Chief Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,438 | $108,050 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $65,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | BGC Partners |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a systems designer and a chief engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Designer | Chief Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between systems designers' and chief engineers' demographics:
| Systems Designer | Chief Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3% | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 16.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 10.2% White, 71.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |