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The differences between electrical products engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an electrical products engineer, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an electrical products engineer has an average salary of $79,249, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical products engineer include product development, C++ and UL. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Electrical Products Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,249 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $38.10 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 57,928 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
An electrical product engineer works inside a factory, designing electrical products according to manufacturing standards. They are responsible for the product's completeness, from assembling parts to making it whole. They oversee staff performances, delegate tasks, and ensure safety standards are followed. They can even hire and train new staff to increase production. Ensuring safety, they also provide training and seminars, sharing basic knowledge of electricity and how to avoid accidents involving equipment.
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Electrical products engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Products Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,249 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $105,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical products engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Products Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical products engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Products Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.9% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |