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The differences between systems designers and design 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 design engineer. Additionally, a systems designer has an average salary of $93,438, which is higher than the $77,134 average annual salary of a design engineer.
The top three skills for a systems designer include system design, CRM and sales proposals. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Systems Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,438 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $44.92 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,665 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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 design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Systems designers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,438 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a systems designer and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between systems designers' and design engineers' demographics:
| Systems Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |