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The differences between systems designers and senior 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 senior design engineer. Additionally, a senior design engineer has an average salary of $104,698, 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 senior design engineer are CAD, project management, and RF.
| Systems Designer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,438 | $104,698 |
| Hourly rate | $44.92 | $50.34 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,665 | 127,035 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 senior design engineer is responsible for creating mechanical and electrical designs for machines and systems, following clients' specifications and business guidelines. Senior design engineers also assist junior design engineers with their tasks, sharing best practices and techniques, and suggesting adjustments as needed. They also oversee the manufacturing process, inspect possible inconsistencies, and revise plans without exceeding the agreed budget or compromising the quality. A senior design engineer must be keen with details and highly organizational, especially on meeting deadlines with the highest client satisfaction.
Systems designers and senior design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Designer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,438 | $104,698 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $80,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a systems designer and a senior design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Designer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between systems designers' and senior design engineers' demographics:
| Systems Designer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |