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The differences between systems designers and senior project 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 project engineer. Additionally, a senior project engineer has an average salary of $97,803, 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 project engineer are project management, construction management, and CAD.
| Systems Designer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,438 | $97,803 |
| Hourly rate | $44.92 | $47.02 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,665 | 146,838 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 project engineer is responsible for monitoring the project team's overall process and operations from conceptualization until completion, ensuring the adherence to the clients' specifications, within the budget's goals, and the required deadline. Senior project engineers regularly communicate with the client regarding updates or necessary adjustments. They develop strategic procedures to finish the project efficiently by running diagnostic tests and troubleshooting discrepancies. A senior project engineer must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the team's performance and provide assistance when necessary.
Systems designers and senior project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Designer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,438 | $97,803 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $77,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Meta | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a systems designer and a senior project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Designer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between systems designers' and senior project engineers' demographics:
| Systems Designer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3% | Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6% |
| 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, 8.4% Asian, 14.8% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |