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The differences between electrical research engineers and 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 research engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $85,767 average annual salary of an electrical research engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical research engineer include C++, electrical systems and MATLAB. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Electrical Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,767 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $41.23 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 76,225 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
The electrical research engineers are responsible for conducting research, designing and developing new and innovative electrical products or systems, and evaluate them to improve existing technical processes. They have strong analytical and critical thinking skills and professional competency to perform intensive research and collaborate on standards for procedures, and design testing methods to identify problems and solutions. Being an electrical research engineer is essential to a company since the job involves innovation and development processes.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Electrical research engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,767 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $112,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redmond, WA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical research engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical research engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 21.4% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |