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The differences between electrical & instrumentation designers and senior field 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 & instrumentation designer and a senior field engineer. Additionally, a senior field engineer has an average salary of $97,104, which is higher than the $81,188 average annual salary of an electrical & instrumentation designer.
The top three skills for an electrical & instrumentation designer include PLC, instrumentation design and control systems. The most important skills for a senior field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Electrical & Instrumentation Designer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $81,188 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $39.03 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 81,243 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An electrical instrumentation designer's main job is to design instruments that can be used in various areas such as laboratories, power plants, or research institutes. They work together with a team or individually to design instruments, create a prototype, and test its functions. They can even install these instruments in different establishments and locations. They are tasked with repair and training engineers. At other times, they are assigned to record expenses and other documentation.
A senior field engineer is in charge of overseeing and providing technical support on-site, helping operations run smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include performing installations and upgrades, performing research and analysis, managing staff, producing progress reports, and conducting inspections, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on equipment, performing corrective repairs and adjustments when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior field engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers while implementing the site's safety policies and regulations.
Electrical & instrumentation designers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical & Instrumentation Designer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $81,188 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $109,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical & instrumentation designer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical & Instrumentation Designer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical & instrumentation designers' and senior field engineers' demographics:
| Electrical & Instrumentation Designer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |