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Electrical electronics engineers vs radio frequency engineer

The differences between electrical electronics engineers and radio frequency engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an electrical electronics engineers and a radio frequency engineer. Additionally, a radio frequency engineer has an average salary of $88,301, which is higher than the $86,399 average annual salary of an electrical electronics engineers.

The top three skills for an electrical electronics engineers include electrical components, analog and C++. The most important skills for a radio frequency engineer are test equipment, antenna, and system performance.

Electrical electronics engineers vs radio frequency engineer overview

Electrical Electronics EngineersRadio Frequency Engineer
Yearly salary$86,399$88,301
Hourly rate$41.54$42.45
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs50,38135,158
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

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 a radio frequency engineer do?

A radio frequency engineer, also known as RF engineer, specializes in designing and developing communication systems using radio waves. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around creating networks and systems and testing equipment. They make sure that equipment is up to high standards by traveling to different areas as needed, troubleshooting issues to identify the root of problems and performing corrective measures required. Furthermore, a radio frequency engineer must continuously optimize equipment quality and ensure efficiency while adhering to the laws and regulations.

Electrical electronics engineers vs radio frequency engineer salary

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

Electrical Electronics EngineersRadio Frequency Engineer
Average salary$86,399$88,301
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $111,000Between $67,000 And $115,000
Highest paying CitySan Ramon, CACupertino, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyBorgWarnerMeta
Best paying industryAutomotiveTechnology

Differences between electrical electronics engineers and radio frequency engineer education

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

Electrical Electronics EngineersRadio Frequency Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityNortheastern University

Electrical electronics engineers vs radio frequency engineer demographics

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

Electrical Electronics EngineersRadio Frequency Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 89.9% Female, 10.1%Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%
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, 4.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 20.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between electrical electronics engineers and radio frequency engineer 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

Radio frequency engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage joint projects together with Samsung, Motorola, etc.
  • Lead the development of the security layer of Wi-Fi on Sandbridge's proprietary platform.
  • Assist with live broadcasts, update the community calendar, manage WCJW Facebook page.
  • Process improvement efforts and/or other opportunities to automate these processes with computer applications with C++ and/or Java where applicable.
  • Measure stationary test for DL and UL throughput using iPerf.
  • Advance WLAN troubleshooting on WLAN infrastructures, as well as surveying using AirMagnet.
  • Show more

Electrical electronics engineers vs radio frequency engineer skills

Common electrical electronics engineers skills
  • Electrical Components, 8%
  • Analog, 7%
  • C++, 7%
  • Power Electronics, 7%
  • CAD, 5%
  • Circuit Design, 4%
Common radio frequency engineer skills
  • Test Equipment, 9%
  • Antenna, 7%
  • System Performance, 4%
  • System Design, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%
  • Macro, 3%

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