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The differences between electrical maintenance engineers and 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 maintenance engineer and an electrical engineer. Additionally, an electrical engineer has an average salary of $81,026, which is higher than the $77,585 average annual salary of an electrical maintenance engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical maintenance engineer include PLC, electrical equipment and control systems. The most important skills for an electrical engineer are autocad, electrical systems, and UL.
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,585 | $81,026 |
| Hourly rate | $37.30 | $38.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 90,479 | 68,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
As a part of the maintenance team, the electrical maintenance engineer is responsible for maintaining electrical fixtures used by establishments. They install electrical equipment such as switches and elevators, repair if the damage is present, and maintain their proper function. They are hired independently or contractually in industrial establishments to do their job. They must respond quickly if a malfunction is observed, ensuring safety along the way. They must have good communication skills to work with the team.
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 maintenance engineers and electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,585 | $81,026 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $106,000 | Between $59,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | The Woodlands, TX | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical maintenance engineer and an electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical maintenance engineers' and electrical engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 11.1% Asian, 16.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |