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Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical designer

The differences between electrical engineering project managers and electrical designers 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 engineering project manager and an electrical designer. Additionally, an electrical engineering project manager has an average salary of $87,900, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.

The top three skills for an electrical engineering project manager include electrical engineering, project management and autocad. The most important skills for an electrical designer are revit, electrical design, and autocad electrical.

Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical designer overview

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Designer
Yearly salary$87,900$64,930
Hourly rate$42.26$31.22
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs131,38082,332
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Associate Degree, 47%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does an electrical engineering project manager do?

An electrical engineering project manager spearheads and manages engineering projects, ensuring operations adhere to goals and budgets. Part of their job is to participate in identifying and meeting project requirements, set daily objectives and guidelines, manage project teams, and monitor processes, addressing and resolving issues should there be any. They may also liaise and negotiate with external parties, building positive relationships in the process. Moreover, being an electrical engineering project manager, they have the responsibility to lead and encourage the workforce to reach project goals while implementing company policies and standards.

What does an electrical designer do?

An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.

Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical designer salary

Electrical engineering project managers and electrical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Designer
Average salary$87,900$64,930
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $114,000Between $47,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CityLivermore, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyCalpineAmd
Best paying industryEnergyManufacturing

Differences between electrical engineering project manager and electrical designer education

There are a few differences between an electrical engineering project manager and an electrical designer in terms of educational background:

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Associate Degree, 47%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityMichigan Technological University

Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical designer demographics

Here are the differences between electrical engineering project managers' and electrical designers' demographics:

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Designer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 88.6% Female, 11.4%Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between electrical engineering project manager and electrical designer duties and responsibilities

Electrical engineering project manager example responsibilities.

  • Participate and lead capital projects, maintenance excellence and CMMS programs, and EHS objectives.
  • Manage department staff of 24 full-time electrical engineers, firmware developers and technicians (employees and contractors).
  • Manage projects involve from procurement to completion for geotechnical and construction materials testing and inspection projects.
  • Create new opportunities and value for the company and successfully manage all geotechnical engineering matters including comprehensive report writing.
  • Design analog and digital PCB's.
  • Provide detail design in both analog and digital from schematic to PCB layout.
  • Show more

Electrical designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
  • Design control systems to NFPA, UL, and CE specifications to comply with country-specific standards.
  • Work conduct using PDMS, NavisWorks and AutoCAD.
  • Used INTOOLS to input instrument tags into index, customize reports & import data from PDMS into INTOOLS.
  • Integrate electrical & electronic designs into custom automation equipment using 2D & 3D design software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks).
  • Convert various units to DCS for ExxonMobil.
  • Show more

Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical designer skills

Common electrical engineering project manager skills
  • Electrical Engineering, 18%
  • Project Management, 17%
  • Autocad, 8%
  • Engineering Design, 5%
  • Engineering Services, 4%
  • Electrical Design, 4%
Common electrical designer skills
  • Revit, 14%
  • Electrical Design, 11%
  • Autocad Electrical, 5%
  • UL, 5%
  • Electrical Systems, 5%
  • Electrical Schematics, 4%

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