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The differences between associate electrical engineers and electronics engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an associate electrical engineer, becoming an electronics engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an electronics engineer has an average salary of $93,985, 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 electronics engineer are analog, RF, and power electronics.
| Associate Electrical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,773 | $93,985 |
| Hourly rate | $34.51 | $45.19 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 31,707 | 83,870 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
An electronics engineer specializes in designing and developing electronic components and systems, ensuring efficiency in all aspects. They are primarily responsible for conducting tests and maintenance for systems, identifying any faults or inconsistencies, and performing corrective measures right away. Moreover, an electronics engineer must coordinate with clients to consult them on their needs and meet with other skilled engineers to ensure optimal quality of equipment. An electronics engineer may also perform administrative tasks, mainly to produce progress reports and presentations, manage schedules, and craft instructional written materials for all electronic systems.
Associate electrical engineers and electronics engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Electrical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,773 | $93,985 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $100,000 | Between $68,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between an associate electrical engineer and an electronics engineer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Electrical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between associate electrical engineers' and electronics engineers' demographics:
| Associate Electrical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 15.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |