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The differences between systems designers and senior 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 engineer. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, 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 engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Systems Designer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,438 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $44.92 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,665 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Systems designers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Designer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,438 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a systems designer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Designer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between systems designers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Systems Designer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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% |