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The differences between virtualization engineers and systems 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 virtualization engineer and a systems engineer. Additionally, a virtualization engineer has an average salary of $97,397, which is higher than the $82,834 average annual salary of a systems engineer.
The top three skills for a virtualization engineer include troubleshoot, virtualization and VDI. The most important skills for a systems engineer are python, linux, and C++.
| Virtualization Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,397 | $82,834 |
| Hourly rate | $46.83 | $39.82 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 60,218 | 145,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A virtualization engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and procedures to manage data storage and other data platforms. Among their responsibilities include performing server and platform maintenance, handling data migration, creating new tools and applications, and producing progress reports. They must also gather and analyze data to identify areas needing improvement and implement solutions against problem areas. Furthermore, as an engineer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.
Virtualization engineers and systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Virtualization Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,397 | $82,834 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $130,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vacaville, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a virtualization engineer and a systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Virtualization Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between virtualization engineers' and systems engineers' demographics:
| Virtualization Engineer | Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.7% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |