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The differences between engineering specialist technicians and senior engineering technicians 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 specialist technician, becoming a senior engineering technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an engineering specialist technician has an average salary of $89,631, which is higher than the $88,615 average annual salary of a senior engineering technician.
The top three skills for an engineering specialist technician include troubleshoot, project management and powerpoint. The most important skills for a senior engineering technician are java, SR, and emerging technologies.
| Engineering Specialist Technician | Senior Engineering Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $89,631 | $88,615 |
| Hourly rate | $43.09 | $42.60 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 74,148 | 94,734 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Engineering specialist technicians draw up equipment and product blueprints and plans. They design and build planned equipment/product prototypes and analyze product/system performance. Besides creating daily laboratory activity reports and ordering and replacing equipment parts, engineering specialist technicians also help software design and write computer programs. These professionals address and resolve product glitches and problems and conduct regular product/equipment maintenance. Moreover, engineering specialist technicians inspect product designs for issues/problems and suggest the right ways to enhance products/equipment.
A Senior Engineering Technician uses the technical principles of engineering to create and develop a project or product. They also provide technical assistance to professional engineering staff on special projects.
Engineering specialist technicians and senior engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Specialist Technician | Senior Engineering Technician | |
| Average salary | $89,631 | $88,615 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $124,000 | Between $63,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Idaho |
| Best paying company | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner | CrowdStrike |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an engineering specialist technician and a senior engineering technician in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Specialist Technician | Senior Engineering Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between engineering specialist technicians' and senior engineering technicians' demographics:
| Engineering Specialist Technician | Senior Engineering Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% | Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5% |
| 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, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 11.3% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |