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The differences between electrical engineering technicians and electrical design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become an electrical engineering technician, becoming an electrical design engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an electrical design engineer has an average salary of $83,944, which is higher than the $56,704 average annual salary of an electrical engineering technician.
The top three skills for an electrical engineering technician include test equipment, PLC and CAD. The most important skills for an electrical design engineer are electrical design, revit, and electrical systems.
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $56,704 | $83,944 |
| Hourly rate | $27.26 | $40.36 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 133,838 | 87,121 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 2 |
An electrical engineering technician is responsible for evaluating and designing electrical systems and improving the control equipment to support business functions and operations. Electrical engineering technicians assemble and install components by analyzing blueprints and schematics accurately. They also strategize cost-reduction techniques without compromising the quality standards, requiring them to negotiate with trusted suppliers and vendors for tools and materials needed for the production. An electrical engineering technician monitors the conceptualization of layout designs until the final output launch to ensure stability and prevent downtimes.
An electrical design engineer develops electrical systems for different applications. Electrical design engineers create system layouts and specifications. They test the systems and make some adjustments whenever necessary. The solutions they create range from component designs to large systems. The set of skills imperative for this job include good technical abilities, teamwork, motivation for extra work hours, ability to execute job under pressure, and enthusiasm. They should also be savvy in technology and innovation.
Electrical engineering technicians and electrical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $56,704 | $83,944 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $76,000 | Between $63,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical engineering technician and an electrical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical engineering technicians' and electrical design engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |