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The differences between systems engineers staff and lead engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a systems engineer staff, becoming a lead engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a systems engineer staff has an average salary of $129,611, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a systems engineer staff include architecture, DOD and MATLAB. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $129,611 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $62.31 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 304,494 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A systems engineer staff is responsible for designing and developing systems and software that optimize business operations, ensuring smooth workflow and client satisfaction. They primarily conduct research and analysis to identify the needs of the company and its clients, examine existing systems to identify areas needing improvements, install applications, and perform regular maintenance checks, providing corrective measures as required. Furthermore, as a systems engineer staff, it is essential to provide technical support within the company, all while implementing its policies and regulations.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Systems engineers staff and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $129,611 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $175,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a systems engineer staff and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between systems engineers staff' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.8% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |