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The differences between electro optical engineers and customer engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an electro optical engineer and a customer engineer. Additionally, a customer engineer has an average salary of $101,212, which is higher than the $94,958 average annual salary of an electro optical engineer.
The top three skills for an electro optical engineer include system performance, C++ and data analysis. The most important skills for a customer engineer are customer service, technical problems, and level agreements.
| Electro Optical Engineer | Customer Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,958 | $101,212 |
| Hourly rate | $45.65 | $48.66 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 12,443 | 44,709 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An electro-optical engineer performs engineering tasks related to electronic and optical devices, creates optical designs, and assists users of laser optics. The essential skills that an electro-optical engineer should possess to perform his/her or her responsibilities include good mathematical and speaking skills and the ability to concentrate to create complex electrical systems and electronic components and products. The education requirements for the job include a college degree in electrical engineering, physics, or a related field.
A customer engineer provides technical support to organizations having issues with their products or services. Duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the sector, but generally include diagnosing and troubleshooting technical problems with products, performing tests, upgrades and diagnostics to prevent delay or downtime caused by-product issues, and keeping updated reports outlining the problems and measures taken to resolve them. A customer engineer is also responsible for discussing service contracts and their benefits with clients.
Electro optical engineers and customer engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electro Optical Engineer | Customer Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,958 | $101,212 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $132,000 | Between $77,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lynnwood, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | 3M Company | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an electro optical engineer and a customer engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electro Optical Engineer | Customer Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between electro optical engineers' and customer engineers' demographics:
| Electro Optical Engineer | Customer Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 90.4% Female, 9.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 15.7% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |