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The differences between electrical engineers lead and project 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 project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an electrical engineer lead has an average salary of $111,251, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical engineer lead include electrical engineering, autocad and engineering design. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $111,251 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $53.49 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,196 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Electrical engineers lead and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $111,251 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $148,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical engineer lead and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 project engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |