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The differences between electrical specialists and electrical designers 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 designer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an electrical specialist has an average salary of $75,131, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.
The top three skills for an electrical specialist include electrical equipment, PLC and electrical systems. The most important skills for an electrical designer are revit, electrical design, and autocad electrical.
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,131 | $64,930 |
| Hourly rate | $36.12 | $31.22 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 25,948 | 82,332 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| 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 designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.
Electrical specialists and electrical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Designer | |
| Average salary | $75,131 | $64,930 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $104,000 | Between $47,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Occidental Petroleum | Amd |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an electrical specialist and an electrical designer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical specialists' and electrical designers' demographics:
| Electrical Specialist | Electrical Designer | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |