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The differences between electrical engineering technicians and electrical 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 engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an electrical engineer has an average salary of $81,026, 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 engineer are autocad, electrical systems, and UL.
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $56,704 | $81,026 |
| Hourly rate | $27.26 | $38.95 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 133,838 | 68,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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.
Electrical engineers are responsible for designing and developing new electrical systems, solving issues, and testing equipment. They work on various technologies, including telecommunication systems, satellite communications, and electrical power stations. Electrical engineers study and apply the mathematics and physics of electromagnetism, electronics, and electricity to small and large-scale electrical systems to transmit energy and process information. They often work with all types of electronic devices, such as supercomputers and power transmission. They also work in the emerging field of microelectronics.
Electrical engineering technicians and electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $56,704 | $81,026 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $76,000 | Between $59,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | Redmond, WA |
| 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 engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Engineering Technician | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 16.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |