Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between systems engineers staff and senior 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 senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a systems engineer staff has an average salary of $129,611, which is higher than the $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for a systems engineer staff include architecture, DOD and MATLAB. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $129,611 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $62.31 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 304,494 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 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 engineers staff and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $129,611 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $175,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a systems engineer staff and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between systems engineers staff' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |