Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between systems engineers and systems architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a systems architect has an average salary of $103,764, which is higher than the $82,834 average annual salary of a systems engineer.
The top three skills for a systems engineer include python, linux and C++. The most important skills for a systems architect are cloud, java, and python.
| Systems Engineer | Systems Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $82,834 | $103,764 |
| Hourly rate | $39.82 | $49.89 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 145,936 | 232,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.
A systems architect specializes in designing and developing computer networks and systems for company operations. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify a company's needs, devising strategies to reach particular goals, improving existing systems, and implementing solutions for optimal processes. A systems architect must also monitor the progress of all implementations, prepare progress reports and presentations, provide technical support as needed, and train new workforce members, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including vision and mission.
Systems engineers and systems architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Engineer | Systems Architect | |
| Average salary | $82,834 | $103,764 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $109,000 | Between $76,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a systems engineer and a systems architect in terms of educational background:
| Systems Engineer | Systems Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between systems engineers' and systems architects' demographics:
| Systems Engineer | Systems Architect | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |