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Associate electrical engineer vs electrical project engineer

The differences between associate electrical engineers and electrical project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an associate electrical engineer and an electrical project engineer. Additionally, an electrical project engineer has an average salary of $84,342, which is higher than the $71,773 average annual salary of an associate electrical engineer.

The top three skills for an associate electrical engineer include electrical components, electrical equipment and RF. The most important skills for an electrical project engineer are project management, autocad, and PLC.

Associate electrical engineer vs electrical project engineer overview

Associate Electrical EngineerElectrical Project Engineer
Yearly salary$71,773$84,342
Hourly rate$34.51$40.55
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs31,70767,802
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does an associate electrical engineer do?

An associate electrical engineer is responsible for organizing and developing electrical systems, improving existing components, and designing infrastructure under the guidance of the senior electrical engineer. Associate electrical engineers identify cost-reduction materials and analyze current electrical industry trends to determine efficient products and equipment that support public demands and industrial use. They collaborate testing methods with the engineering team, suggest project improvement techniques, and perform quality assurance procedures to stabilize the electrical system's optimal performance.

What does an electrical project engineer do?

Electrical Project Engineers have licensed engineers involved in a project which specifically works on electrical or electricity-related concerns. They design the electrical systems that are needed for the success of the project. They draw up these systems using software and identify the materials needed to create these. They would then develop these systems by creating them using the materials and test if their design is working. Once they validate the design works and address the project's needs, electrical project engineers would work on controlling, maintaining, and repairing these systems as needed.

Associate electrical engineer vs electrical project engineer salary

Associate electrical engineers and electrical project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Associate Electrical EngineerElectrical Project Engineer
Average salary$71,773$84,342
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $100,000Between $64,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyMcKinsey & Company IncAmazon
Best paying industryHospitalityHospitality

Differences between associate electrical engineer and electrical project engineer education

There are a few differences between an associate electrical engineer and an electrical project engineer in terms of educational background:

Associate Electrical EngineerElectrical Project Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeMichigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University

Associate electrical engineer vs electrical project engineer demographics

Here are the differences between associate electrical engineers' and electrical project engineers' demographics:

Associate Electrical EngineerElectrical Project Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 86.6% Female, 13.4%Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between associate electrical engineer and electrical project engineer duties and responsibilities

Associate electrical engineer example responsibilities.

  • Assist engineers with designing and coding test fixtures using LabVIEW to automate production testing.
  • Perform experiments on RF components during development process and achieve a robust design.
  • Coordinate with senior electrical engineers and achieve hands-on experience on coal fire plant power generation and power transformers, circuit breakers.
  • Participate in the conversion of Magtek FPGA card reader microcontroller into an ASIC.
  • Upgrade, rework and troubleshoot to the component level of digital and analog circuits.
  • Design power supply, PCB layout and mechanical housing for testing tool and interface boards.
  • Show more

Electrical project engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead and contribute to the creation of documentation to satisfy FDA and ISO requirements.
  • Manage load/unload operations for rail base raw material (HDPE and PPE feedstock) delivery.
  • Develop LabVIEW code to automate test procedures and to communicate with units for verification of functionality and accuracy.
  • Complete accurate and thorough documentation of qualification testing, field testing, technical specifications and NEC and IEEE standards compliance.
  • Design several leer certified projects.
  • Work on a plant start-up with client.
  • Show more

Associate electrical engineer vs electrical project engineer skills

Common associate electrical engineer skills
  • Electrical Components, 7%
  • Electrical Equipment, 6%
  • RF, 6%
  • CAD, 5%
  • Autocad, 4%
  • C++, 4%
Common electrical project engineer skills
  • Project Management, 9%
  • Autocad, 8%
  • PLC, 6%
  • CAD, 4%
  • Engineering Design, 4%
  • Electrical Design, 4%

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