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The differences between field electrical engineers and senior electrical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a field electrical engineer and a senior electrical engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, which is higher than the $86,347 average annual salary of a field electrical engineer.
The top three skills for a field electrical engineer include electrical systems, oil gas and control systems. The most important skills for a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.
| Field Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,347 | $109,315 |
| Hourly rate | $41.51 | $52.56 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 97,684 | 82,639 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 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.
A senior electrical engineer is an individual who leads other engineers to review electrical design plans and analyze existing electrical systems. Senior electrical engineers must establish relationships with clients, vendors, and suppliers to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications. They create project budgets and produce working schedules and company regulations to make sure that a safe and positive working environment is achieved. Senior electrical engineers must be passionate about engineering development by attending electrical conferences and events.
Field electrical engineers and senior electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,347 | $109,315 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vancouver, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a field electrical engineer and a senior electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Field Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between field electrical engineers' and senior electrical engineers' demographics:
| Field Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |