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The differences between electrical research engineers 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 research engineer and a senior field engineer. Additionally, a senior field engineer has an average salary of $97,104, 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 field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,767 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $41.23 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 76,225 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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 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 research engineers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,767 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $112,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redmond, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical research engineer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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 field engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Research Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| 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, 4.9% 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% |