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The differences between design technicians and electrical design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a design technician, becoming an electrical design engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an electrical design engineer has an average salary of $83,944, which is higher than the $62,288 average annual salary of a design technician.
The top three skills for a design technician include revit, civil 3d and aided design. The most important skills for an electrical design engineer are electrical design, revit, and electrical systems.
| Design Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $62,288 | $83,944 |
| Hourly rate | $29.95 | $40.36 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 48,394 | 87,121 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 2 |
A design technician's role revolves around conducting extensive research and analysis to determine a company's needs. The technician will develop system plans and collaborate with fellow technicians and engineers. There are also instances where a design technician has to craft presentations and hand in proposals, revising them when necessary. Furthermore, a design technician must produce progress reports, abide by managers' directions, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
An electrical design engineer develops electrical systems for different applications. Electrical design engineers create system layouts and specifications. They test the systems and make some adjustments whenever necessary. The solutions they create range from component designs to large systems. The set of skills imperative for this job include good technical abilities, teamwork, motivation for extra work hours, ability to execute job under pressure, and enthusiasm. They should also be savvy in technology and innovation.
Design technicians and electrical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $62,288 | $83,944 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $104,000 | Between $63,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design technician and an electrical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between design technicians' and electrical design engineers' demographics:
| Design Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |