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Electrical electronics engineers vs electronics technician

The differences between electrical electronics engineers and electronics technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an electrical electronics engineers, becoming an electronics technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an electrical electronics engineers has an average salary of $86,399, which is higher than the $46,660 average annual salary of an electronics technician.

The top three skills for an electrical electronics engineers include electrical components, analog and C++. The most important skills for an electronics technician are hand tools, RF, and ladders.

Electrical electronics engineers vs electronics technician overview

Electrical Electronics EngineersElectronics Technician
Yearly salary$86,399$46,660
Hourly rate$41.54$22.43
Growth rate3%-
Number of jobs50,38183,284
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Associate Degree, 52%
Average age4550
Years of experience612

What does an electrical electronics engineers do?

An electrical electronics engineer is responsible for designing, creating, and developing devices such as computers, mobile phones, and portable audio devices. As an electrical electronics engineer, you will design and manage equipment for controlling and monitoring systems, machinery, and systems. Additionally, you will plan projects and prepare and manage budgets for these projects. Other duties that you will likely perform include providing recommendations about design modifications, designing software to simplify certain engineering tasks, and testing system capabilities and finished products.

What does an electronics technician do?

An electronics technician is responsible for the maintenance of the technology and electrical equipment to ensure its performance with the highest quality standards. Electronics technicians' duties include troubleshooting, replacing malfunction equipment components, upgrading technology and software systems, operating machines, diagnosing defects, analyzing blueprints, conducting system installations, and creating reports for technological procedures. An electronics technician must have excellent attention to detail and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to multi-task in performing tasks accurately and efficiently to deliver the best services to clients.

Electrical electronics engineers vs electronics technician salary

Electrical electronics engineers and electronics technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electrical Electronics EngineersElectronics Technician
Average salary$86,399$46,660
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $111,000Between $32,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CitySan Ramon, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMontana
Best paying companyBorgWarnerJacobs Engineering Group
Best paying industryAutomotiveEnergy

Differences between electrical electronics engineers and electronics technician education

There are a few differences between an electrical electronics engineers and an electronics technician in terms of educational background:

Electrical Electronics EngineersElectronics Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Associate Degree, 52%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityNortheastern University

Electrical electronics engineers vs electronics technician demographics

Here are the differences between electrical electronics engineers' and electronics technicians' demographics:

Electrical Electronics EngineersElectronics Technician
Average age4550
Gender ratioMale, 89.9% Female, 10.1%Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between electrical electronics engineers and electronics technician duties and responsibilities

Electrical electronics engineers example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate with senior electrical engineers and achieve hands-on experience on coal fire plant power generation and power transformers, circuit breakers.
  • Design and implement analog and digital electronic laser control systems.
  • Experience with the entire 3 MHz to 110 GHz RF frequencyrange as well as some EO/IR relate.
  • Build, test and troubleshoot equipment to the component level.
  • Assist electrical engineers in multiple projects, such as installing HVAC systems.
  • Test and validation of designs to FCC, UL and other approval agency requirements.
  • Show more

Electronics technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Diagnose and troubleshoot malfunctions in electrical and electronic components.
  • Calibrate, troubleshoot and repair professional electronic test equipment: oscilloscopes, oscillators and pulse generators.
  • Utilize a wide array of test equipment including oscilloscopes, signal generators, and communications monitors.
  • Assemble electronic components onto print circuit boards with aid of PCB component location prints and engineer assembly documentation.
  • Help tutor other students in writing, math and electronics.
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Electrical electronics engineers vs electronics technician skills

Common electrical electronics engineers skills
  • Electrical Components, 8%
  • Analog, 7%
  • C++, 7%
  • Power Electronics, 7%
  • CAD, 5%
  • Circuit Design, 4%
Common electronics technician skills
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • RF, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 4%
  • Oscilloscopes, 4%
  • PLC, 4%

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