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The differences between field electrical engineers and electrical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a field electrical engineer has an average salary of $86,347, which is higher than the $55,215 average annual salary of an electrical technician.
The top three skills for a field electrical engineer include electrical systems, oil gas and control systems. The most important skills for an electrical technician are hand tools, PLC, and electrical equipment.
| Field Electrical Engineer | Electrical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $86,347 | $55,215 |
| Hourly rate | $41.51 | $26.55 |
| Growth rate | 3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 97,684 | 127,792 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Associate Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 45 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Buildings must be safe especially in term of wirings for electricity. This aspect is the main job of a field electrical engineer. Possessing enough mathematical, chemistry and physics knowledge, they work hand in hand with construction workers to develop safe and equitable electrical system of any building. They also test machines for any defect and design and develop new systems to further enhance safety. They have the necessary ability to solve any damage to equipment.
An electrical technician is responsible for managing the electrical systems of an establishment, ensuring the safety of the network and cables to support daily operations. Electrical technicians analyze schematics and specifications to construct electrical systems, run diagnostic tests, and perform repairs for any defects and inconsistencies. They assemble electrical equipment, replace malfunctioning components, upgrading systems, and advising management of high-quality electrical supplies. An electrical technician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical and mechanical industry, especially with supervising electricians on their duties, as well as responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns.
Field electrical engineers and electrical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Electrical Engineer | Electrical Technician | |
| Average salary | $86,347 | $55,215 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $37,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vancouver, WA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Texas Instruments |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a field electrical engineer and an electrical technician in terms of educational background:
| Field Electrical Engineer | Electrical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Associate Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | - |
Here are the differences between field electrical engineers' and electrical technicians' demographics:
| Field Electrical Engineer | Electrical Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |