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The differences between systems operators and information systems specialists 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 information systems specialist. Additionally, an information systems specialist has an average salary of $73,495, 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 information systems specialist are customer service, data analysis, and data entry.
| Systems Operator | Information Systems Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,182 | $73,495 |
| Hourly rate | $18.36 | $35.33 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 91,037 | 164,042 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| 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.
An Information Systems Specialist is responsible for supporting and developing the database system of an organization. They are responsible for designing and implementing information systems, developing prototypes, and maintaining hardware and software operations. They build information security to protect the computer system against a threat. Information System Specialists must have good communication and analytical skills to adapt to different organizational needs.
Systems operators and information systems specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Operator | Information Systems Specialist | |
| Average salary | $38,182 | $73,495 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $51,000 | Between $51,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Diego, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Kentucky |
| Best paying company | DC Water | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a systems operator and an information systems specialist in terms of educational background:
| Systems Operator | Information Systems Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between systems operators' and information systems specialists' demographics:
| Systems Operator | Information Systems Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 10.7% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |