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The differences between systems operators and assistant systems administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a systems operator and an assistant systems administrator. Additionally, an assistant systems administrator has an average salary of $40,777, which is higher than the $38,182 average annual salary of a systems operator.
The top three skills for a systems operator include computer system, management system and combat. The most important skills for an assistant systems administrator are customer service, patients, and payroll.
| Systems Operator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,182 | $40,777 |
| Hourly rate | $18.36 | $19.60 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 91,037 | 104,311 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Systems operators often act as the front liners whose primary job is to ensure the reliable delivery of electricity service to consumers and businesses. They are responsible for overseeing and managing the power grid and controlling electricity flow through transmission lines. Other duties and responsibilities of systems operators include monitoring and operating current converters, observing circuit breakers and voltage transformers, and anticipating the changing needs for power due to weather. They are also responsible for communicating with key stakeholders such as power plant operators to route energy to consumers.
Assistant systems administrators are responsible for supporting a team with their day-to-day operations of a company's computer systems and networks. They perform varied tasks, including monitoring, maintaining, and testing internet performance, ensuring the availability of computer networks for all users, and troubleshooting system failures and computer hardware and software issues. Assistant systems administrators may conduct training and support other network users within the organization. Additional tasks also include monitoring and evaluating the efficiency of operations and preparing systems and software documentation.
Systems operators and assistant systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Operator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Average salary | $38,182 | $40,777 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $51,000 | Between $23,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Diego, CA | Chico, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | DC Water | City of Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a systems operator and an assistant systems administrator in terms of educational background:
| Systems Operator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between systems operators' and assistant systems administrators' demographics:
| Systems Operator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |