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The differences between electrical research engineers and senior 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 research engineer and a senior electrical engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, 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 a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,767 | $109,315 |
| Hourly rate | $41.23 | $52.56 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 76,225 | 82,639 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A senior electrical engineer is an individual who leads other engineers to review electrical design plans and analyze existing electrical systems. Senior electrical engineers must establish relationships with clients, vendors, and suppliers to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications. They create project budgets and produce working schedules and company regulations to make sure that a safe and positive working environment is achieved. Senior electrical engineers must be passionate about engineering development by attending electrical conferences and events.
Electrical research engineers and senior electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,767 | $109,315 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $112,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redmond, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical research engineer and a senior electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical research engineers' and senior electrical engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |