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The differences between electrical engineers lead and consulting 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 engineer lead, becoming a consulting engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an electrical engineer lead has an average salary of $111,251, which is higher than the $97,746 average annual salary of a consulting engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical engineer lead include electrical engineering, autocad and engineering design. The most important skills for a consulting engineer are java, C #, and linux.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Consulting Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $111,251 | $97,746 |
| Hourly rate | $53.49 | $46.99 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,196 | 125,600 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
An electrical engineer lead is an engineering professional who works with clients and internal engineers to establish project requirements and work on multiple electrical projects. Electrical engineer leads provide the cost estimation of electrical projects and prepare budget proposals as well as assign personnel with the capabilities required to complete the assigned tasks. They are required to review the calculation methods to ensure that they comply with all regulatory and project requirements. Electrical engineer leads must also accurately check the electrical design calculations for electrical loads, short circuit, and voltage drop using standard electrical engineering software.
A consulting engineer is an individual who aids in the planning, designing, and construction of a project from the public and private clients. Consulting engineers are required to advise on the best component suitable according to the needs of their clients. They can manage the project by coordinating with designers, architects, and relevant persons who have commissioned the project. They may incorporate green sustainable energy solutions based on the demands of their clients. Consulting engineers must also conduct a feasibility study and prepare the estimated cost for the project.
Electrical engineers lead and consulting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Consulting Engineer | |
| Average salary | $111,251 | $97,746 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $148,000 | Between $72,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical engineer lead and a consulting engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Consulting Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical engineers lead' and consulting engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Consulting Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 13.8% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |