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The differences between electrical test engineers and 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 test engineer and a field engineer. Additionally, an electrical test engineer has an average salary of $74,723, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical test engineer include data analysis, labview and C++. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Electrical Test Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,723 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $35.92 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 69,793 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An electrical test engineer specializes in developing test structures to ensure the quality and efficiency of electrical systems and equipment. Among their responsibilities include understanding and identifying the needs of electrical projects, troubleshooting errors, gathering and analyzing materials to find defects and inconsistencies, conducting tests and examinations, and analyzing test results. Moreover, an electrical test engineer must also study and identify the root of problems, recommending and implementing solutions while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Electrical test engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Test Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,723 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $98,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical test engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Test Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical test engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Test Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% 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% |