Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between engineering associates and field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an engineering associate, becoming a field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a field engineer has an average salary of $71,874, which is higher than the $70,657 average annual salary of an engineering associate.
The top three skills for an engineering associate include python, java and CAD. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Engineering Associate | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,657 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $33.97 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 87,421 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
An engineering associate is an individual whose job duties include analysis of project plans, development of product designs, and maintenance of equipment. The engineering fields where an engineering associate can find a job include civil, mechanical, and environmental. The requirements to qualify for the position include obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering, familiarity with a specific industry, prior work experience related to the field, and possessing strong technical skills.
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.
Engineering associates and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Associate | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,657 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $101,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between an engineering associate and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Associate | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between engineering associates' and field engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Associate | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.8% Female, 19.2% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |