Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between device engineers and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a device engineer and a senior engineer. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $97,458 average annual salary of a device engineer.
The top three skills for a device engineer include python, data analysis and JMP. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Device Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,458 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $46.85 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 42,316 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A device engineer specializes in designing and developing mechanical devices and equipment in adherence to industry or client needs. They may work for companies that produce medical, construction, or even manufacturing devices. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place of employment, they typically include conducting research and analysis, creating prototypes and test structures, coordinating with staff and fellow engineers, performing installations and repairs, and providing technical support to staff as needed. Moreover, a device engineer participates in developing and promoting safety standards and regulations for the products and the workplace.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Device engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Device Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,458 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $130,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a device engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Device Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between device engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Device Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 24.8% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |