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The differences between electrical systems engineers and 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 systems engineer and an electrical engineer. Additionally, an electrical systems engineer has an average salary of $86,969, which is higher than the $81,026 average annual salary of an electrical engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical systems engineer include electrical engineering, electrical systems and system design. The most important skills for an electrical engineer are autocad, electrical systems, and UL.
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,969 | $81,026 |
| Hourly rate | $41.81 | $38.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 149,053 | 68,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Electrical Systems Engineers have licensed engineers who are usually employed in companies involved in power generating machines and activities. These companies are usually providers for buildings, train systems, and automobiles, among others. The engineer designs power lines and machinations to generate power. They ensure that power is properly distributed throughout the system. They identify risks involving short circuits and the like. They would then look for ways to mitigate these risks and apply the necessary controls. Electrical Systems Engineers should have strong analytical skills and quick decision-making skills.
Electrical engineers are responsible for designing and developing new electrical systems, solving issues, and testing equipment. They work on various technologies, including telecommunication systems, satellite communications, and electrical power stations. Electrical engineers study and apply the mathematics and physics of electromagnetism, electronics, and electricity to small and large-scale electrical systems to transmit energy and process information. They often work with all types of electronic devices, such as supercomputers and power transmission. They also work in the emerging field of microelectronics.
Electrical systems engineers and electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,969 | $81,026 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $113,000 | Between $59,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical systems engineer and an electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical systems engineers' and electrical engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Systems Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 16.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |