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Electrical designer vs senior electrical engineer

The differences between electrical designers and senior electrical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an electrical designer and a senior electrical engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.

The top three skills for an electrical designer include revit, electrical design and autocad electrical. The most important skills for a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.

Electrical designer vs senior electrical engineer overview

Electrical DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Yearly salary$64,930$109,315
Hourly rate$31.22$52.56
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs82,33282,639
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does an electrical designer do?

An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.

What does a senior electrical engineer do?

A senior electrical engineer is an individual who leads other engineers to review electrical design plans and analyze existing electrical systems. Senior electrical engineers must establish relationships with clients, vendors, and suppliers to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications. They create project budgets and produce working schedules and company regulations to make sure that a safe and positive working environment is achieved. Senior electrical engineers must be passionate about engineering development by attending electrical conferences and events.

Electrical designer vs senior electrical engineer salary

Electrical designers and senior electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electrical DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Average salary$64,930$109,315
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $89,000Between $82,000 And $144,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyAmdApple
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between electrical designer and senior electrical engineer education

There are a few differences between an electrical designer and a senior electrical engineer in terms of educational background:

Electrical DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeMichigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University

Electrical designer vs senior electrical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between electrical designers' and senior electrical engineers' demographics:

Electrical DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 82.9% Female, 17.1%Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between electrical designer and senior electrical engineer duties and responsibilities

Electrical designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
  • Design control systems to NFPA, UL, and CE specifications to comply with country-specific standards.
  • Work conduct using PDMS, NavisWorks and AutoCAD.
  • Used INTOOLS to input instrument tags into index, customize reports & import data from PDMS into INTOOLS.
  • Integrate electrical & electronic designs into custom automation equipment using 2D & 3D design software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks).
  • Convert various units to DCS for ExxonMobil.
  • Show more

Senior electrical engineer example responsibilities.

  • Develop LabVIEW code to automate test procedures and to communicate with units for verification of functionality and accuracy.
  • Design of water/waste water facilities, including microprocessor controls, MCC, SCADA.
  • Develop the motor control algorithms and analog processing for sensing position using motor current feedback.
  • Train crews how to retrofit 2x4 fixtures.
  • Perform dc battery calculations and 2D design of system.
  • Have installed some electrical panel board according to NFPA standards.
  • Show more

Electrical designer vs senior electrical engineer skills

Common electrical designer skills
  • Revit, 14%
  • Electrical Design, 11%
  • Autocad Electrical, 5%
  • UL, 5%
  • Electrical Systems, 5%
  • Electrical Schematics, 4%
Common senior electrical engineer skills
  • Control Systems, 5%
  • Electrical Equipment, 5%
  • Electrical Systems, 4%
  • Analog, 4%
  • RF, 4%
  • Electrical Design, 4%

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