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The differences between electrical engineering project managers 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 engineering project manager and a senior electrical engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, which is higher than the $87,900 average annual salary of an electrical engineering project manager.
The top three skills for an electrical engineering project manager include electrical engineering, project management and autocad. The most important skills for a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.
| Electrical Engineering Project Manager | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,900 | $109,315 |
| Hourly rate | $42.26 | $52.56 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 131,380 | 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 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.
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 engineering project managers and senior electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineering Project Manager | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,900 | $109,315 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $114,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Livermore, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Calpine | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical engineering project manager and a senior electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineering Project Manager | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical engineering project managers' and senior electrical engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineering Project Manager | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |