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The differences between electrical engineers lead and engineering managers 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 an engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $111,251 average annual salary of an electrical engineer lead.
The top three skills for an electrical engineer lead include electrical engineering, autocad and engineering design. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $111,251 | $139,328 |
| Hourly rate | $53.49 | $66.98 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,196 | 67,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
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.
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
Electrical engineers lead and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $111,251 | $139,328 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $148,000 | Between $99,000 And $195,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Mixpanel | |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical engineer lead and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between electrical engineers lead' and engineering managers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |