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The differences between drive test engineers and circuit design 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 drive test engineer and a circuit design engineer. Additionally, a circuit design engineer has an average salary of $107,694, which is higher than the $76,872 average annual salary of a drive test engineer.
The top three skills for a drive test engineer include data collection, GPS and pre. The most important skills for a circuit design engineer are circuit design, CMOS, and RF.
| Drive Test Engineer | Circuit Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,872 | $107,694 |
| Hourly rate | $36.96 | $51.78 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 36,537 | 70,906 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
For cars and other automobiles' best performance, drive test engineers can be asked for suggestions. From their expertise, one can ensure that the chosen car is equipped with the necessary accessories such as GPS, Bluetooth hubs, an air conditioner, locks, and USB ports. They train and teach people how to drive safely, following road laws and protocols. They monitor for enhancements and provide reports to stakeholders and managers for its application. They can troubleshoot minor software problems in automobiles.
A circuit design engineer specializes in designing and developing electrical components and circuits in devices and machinery. Among their responsibilities include identifying the needs of every project, developing strategies to attain optimal quality, developing diagrams and test structures, troubleshooting, and repairing issues. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on existing systems and perform upgrades and corrective measures as needed. Moreover, a circuit design engineer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Drive test engineers and circuit design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drive Test Engineer | Circuit Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,872 | $107,694 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $103,000 | Between $84,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Federal Way, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a drive test engineer and a circuit design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drive Test Engineer | Circuit Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between drive test engineers' and circuit design engineers' demographics:
| Drive Test Engineer | Circuit Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.9% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 19.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |