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The differences between engineering trainees and radio frequency 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 engineering trainee and a radio frequency engineer. Additionally, a radio frequency engineer has an average salary of $88,301, which is higher than the $60,235 average annual salary of an engineering trainee.
The top three skills for an engineering trainee include fire protection, technical support and R. The most important skills for a radio frequency engineer are test equipment, antenna, and system performance.
| Engineering Trainee | Radio Frequency Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $60,235 | $88,301 |
| Hourly rate | $28.96 | $42.45 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 79,966 | 35,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research. They also identify cost-efficient materials and resources that meet quality standards and client specifications. An engineering trainee must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports, attending meetings, and ensuring that all reports are submitted for management's reviews, such as contracts from suppliers and vendors.
A radio frequency engineer, also known as RF engineer, specializes in designing and developing communication systems using radio waves. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around creating networks and systems and testing equipment. They make sure that equipment is up to high standards by traveling to different areas as needed, troubleshooting issues to identify the root of problems and performing corrective measures required. Furthermore, a radio frequency engineer must continuously optimize equipment quality and ensure efficiency while adhering to the laws and regulations.
Engineering trainees and radio frequency engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Trainee | Radio Frequency Engineer | |
| Average salary | $60,235 | $88,301 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $82,000 | Between $67,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | Livingston, NJ | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Crown Holdings | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between an engineering trainee and a radio frequency engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Trainee | Radio Frequency Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between engineering trainees' and radio frequency engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Trainee | Radio Frequency Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 25.1% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 20.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |