Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between electrical design engineers and 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 electrical design engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $83,944 average annual salary of an electrical design engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical design engineer include electrical design, revit and electrical systems. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Electrical Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $83,944 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $40.36 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 87,121 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Electrical design engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $83,944 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $110,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical design engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical design engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |