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Engineering associate vs senior engineering manager

The differences between engineering associates and senior engineering managers 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 senior engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a senior engineering manager has an average salary of $155,753, 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 senior engineering manager are java, architecture, and cloud.

Engineering associate vs senior engineering manager overview

Engineering AssociateSenior Engineering Manager
Yearly salary$70,657$155,753
Hourly rate$33.97$74.88
Growth rate-2%
Number of jobs87,42170,918
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age5048
Years of experience12-

What does an engineering associate do?

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.

What does a senior engineering manager do?

Senior engineering managers are the leaders who oversee and supervise a team of engineers. These executives are the ones who develop, modify, create, and test solutions to technical-related problems. They direct and coordinate the production, quality assurance, maintenance, operations, or testing in industrial plants. It is part of their job to handle the research and development of new procedures and products. They are also involved in improving the advance scientific research and manufacturing processes of the company.

Engineering associate vs senior engineering manager salary

Engineering associates and senior engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Engineering AssociateSenior Engineering Manager
Average salary$70,657$155,753
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $101,000Between $110,000 And $218,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companyThe CitadelAirbnb
Best paying industryEnergyTelecommunication

Differences between engineering associate and senior engineering manager education

There are a few differences between an engineering associate and a senior engineering manager in terms of educational background:

Engineering AssociateSenior Engineering Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Engineering associate vs senior engineering manager demographics

Here are the differences between engineering associates' and senior engineering managers' demographics:

Engineering AssociateSenior Engineering Manager
Average age5048
Gender ratioMale, 80.8% Female, 19.2%Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 2.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 17.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between engineering associate and senior engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Engineering associate example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with project managers, procurement, shipping/receiving, stores, QA and project leads.
  • Manage and analyze the SEO, SEM and analytics programs for both defensive and offensive marketing opportunities.
  • Demonstrate professionalism and the ability to manage projects independently, performing facility layouts within AutoCAD to forecast customer costs.
  • Work in maintaining the database and data analysis of all the records using SQL.
  • Create PowerPoint exhibits for traffic report.
  • Develop test scripts to deal with pop-up windows and alerts.
  • Show more

Senior engineering manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead PCB design activities for achieving signal integrity and EMC/EMI compliances.
  • Manage and lead technical NPI cross-functional team, focal contact and liaison for manufacturing supply chain.
  • Direct and manage all FEA & CFD activities including hardware and software system activities.
  • Promote lead engineer to manage new internal SDLC, cutting bug-fix time from weeks to days.
  • Manage all aspects of geotechnical engineering projects from proposal preparation to review of invoices and collection of fees.
  • Develop quotes and proposals, track budgets and headcount needs, and manage outsourcing of high-volume PCB or tester builds.
  • Show more

Engineering associate vs senior engineering manager skills

Common engineering associate skills
  • Python, 7%
  • Java, 6%
  • CAD, 6%
  • C++, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • UL, 3%
Common senior engineering manager skills
  • Java, 11%
  • Architecture, 8%
  • Cloud, 7%
  • Infrastructure, 7%
  • Software Development, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%

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