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The differences between systems operators and systems integration engineers 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 a systems integration engineer. Additionally, a systems integration engineer has an average salary of $106,065, 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 a systems integration engineer are python, architecture, and system integration.
| Systems Operator | Systems Integration Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $38,182 | $106,065 |
| Hourly rate | $18.36 | $50.99 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 91,037 | 217,599 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
A systems integration engineer is responsible for evaluating the efficiency and performance of the control systems to support business operations and requirements. Systems integration engineers develop technical solutions from business initiatives that would maximize a team's productivity and increase target performance. They also handle the upgrades of network infrastructure and system configuration and resolve technical failures as soon as they arise. A systems integration engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in providing recommendations to improve the network's capability and prevent downtimes.
Systems operators and systems integration engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Operator | Systems Integration Engineer | |
| Average salary | $38,182 | $106,065 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $51,000 | Between $79,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | DC Water | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a systems operator and a systems integration engineer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Operator | Systems Integration Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between systems operators' and systems integration engineers' demographics:
| Systems Operator | Systems Integration Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% |
| 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, 8.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 14.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |