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The differences between systems engineers staff and software 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 software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a systems engineer staff has an average salary of $129,611, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.
The top three skills for a systems engineer staff include architecture, DOD and MATLAB. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $129,611 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $62.31 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 304,494 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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 software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Systems engineers staff and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Engineer Staff | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $129,611 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $175,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a systems engineer staff and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between systems engineers staff' and software engineers' demographics:
| Systems Engineer Staff | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |