Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between systems managers and senior systems analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a systems manager, becoming a senior systems analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a systems manager has an average salary of $107,156, which is higher than the $82,717 average annual salary of a senior systems analyst.
The top three skills for a systems manager include customer service, project management and patients. The most important skills for a senior systems analyst are project management, java, and sql server.
| Systems Manager | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $107,156 | $82,717 |
| Hourly rate | $51.52 | $39.77 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 145,551 | 154,569 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
A systems manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the information technology department, evaluating staff performance, developing strategic procedures to maximize productivity, and identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenues and profitability for the company. Systems managers inspect company networks to ensure the efficiency of the technology systems, conducting regular diagnostic tests, and installing upgrades to boost optimization. A systems manager must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command in programming languages and system codes to maintain the security of the company's database.
A senior systems analyst is responsible for analyzing IT systems and networks, modifying existing systems for better optimization, and designing efficient technology systems from clients' specifications and business needs. Senior systems analysts regularly inspect the performance of the system networks, ensuring its efficiency and accuracy to support daily operations. They perform troubleshooting, upgrade network infrastructures, and maintain the highest security of the database. A senior systems analyst must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry and a strong command of system languages to mitigate system complexities and improve network processes.
Systems managers and senior systems analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Manager | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Average salary | $107,156 | $82,717 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $152,000 | Between $63,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Credit Karma |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a systems manager and a senior systems analyst in terms of educational background:
| Systems Manager | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between systems managers' and senior systems analysts' demographics:
| Systems Manager | Senior Systems Analyst | |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 72.2% Female, 27.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |