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The differences between electrical engineers lead and senior electrical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an electrical engineer lead and a senior electrical engineer. Additionally, an electrical engineer lead has an average salary of $111,251, which is higher than the $109,315 average annual salary of a senior electrical engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical engineer lead include electrical engineering, autocad and engineering design. The most important skills for a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $111,251 | $109,315 |
| Hourly rate | $53.49 | $52.56 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 82,196 | 82,639 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 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.
A senior electrical engineer is an individual who leads other engineers to review electrical design plans and analyze existing electrical systems. Senior electrical engineers must establish relationships with clients, vendors, and suppliers to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications. They create project budgets and produce working schedules and company regulations to make sure that a safe and positive working environment is achieved. Senior electrical engineers must be passionate about engineering development by attending electrical conferences and events.
Electrical engineers lead and senior electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $111,251 | $109,315 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $148,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| 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 senior electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical engineers lead' and senior electrical engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineer Lead | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |