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The differences between electrical specialists and electrical design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become an electrical specialist, becoming an electrical design engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an electrical design engineer has an average salary of $83,944, which is higher than the $75,131 average annual salary of an electrical specialist.
The top three skills for an electrical specialist include electrical equipment, PLC and electrical systems. The most important skills for an electrical design engineer are electrical design, revit, and electrical systems.
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,131 | $83,944 |
| Hourly rate | $36.12 | $40.36 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 25,948 | 87,121 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 2 |
Electrical specialists use tools and construction documents to install spaces and pathways for installing low voltage wiring. They test, terminate, and install fiber optic and wire cables using special tools and procedures. Besides maintaining, troubleshooting, testing, and installing cable systems using special tools and construction documents, electrical specialists also use construction documents and unique blueprints to install data systems. Also, they install voice systems, video systems, sound distribution systems, and communication systems. Moreover, electrical specialists perform other assigned building maintenance tasks.
An electrical design engineer develops electrical systems for different applications. Electrical design engineers create system layouts and specifications. They test the systems and make some adjustments whenever necessary. The solutions they create range from component designs to large systems. The set of skills imperative for this job include good technical abilities, teamwork, motivation for extra work hours, ability to execute job under pressure, and enthusiasm. They should also be savvy in technology and innovation.
Electrical specialists and electrical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,131 | $83,944 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $104,000 | Between $63,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Occidental Petroleum | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical specialist and an electrical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical specialists' and electrical design engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |