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The differences between electro optical engineers and staff design 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 staff design engineer. Additionally, a staff design engineer has an average salary of $128,071, 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 staff design engineer are architecture, RF, and CAD.
| Electro Optical Engineer | Staff Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,958 | $128,071 |
| Hourly rate | $45.65 | $61.57 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 12,443 | 154,963 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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.
Staff design engineers are tasked to assess the efficiency of instruments, technologies, and equipment by collaborating with the engineering team to plan, design, and develop technologies efficiently. Their responsibilities include building and setting up, as wells as improving systems and procedures. They should possess strong attention to detail, good visual and spatial awareness, creativity, problem-solving, excellent verbal, written, and project management skills, and strong mathematical and IT skills to become efficient and effective staff design engineers.
Electro optical engineers and staff design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electro Optical Engineer | Staff Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,958 | $128,071 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $132,000 | Between $89,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lynnwood, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | 3M Company | HBO |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electro optical engineer and a staff design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electro Optical Engineer | Staff Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between electro optical engineers' and staff design engineers' demographics:
| Electro Optical Engineer | Staff Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 75.7% Female, 24.3% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 23.8% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |