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The differences between field engineers and field service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a field engineer, becoming a field service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a field engineer has an average salary of $71,874, which is higher than the $54,339 average annual salary of a field service technician.
The top three skills for a field engineer include customer service, customer satisfaction and project management. The most important skills for a field service technician are customer service, preventative maintenance, and customer satisfaction.
| Field Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $71,874 | $54,339 |
| Hourly rate | $34.55 | $26.12 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 86,015 | 167,298 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients' offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.
Field engineers and field service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Average salary | $71,874 | $54,339 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $99,000 | Between $35,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a field engineer and a field service technician in terms of educational background:
| Field Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between field engineers' and field service technicians' demographics:
| Field Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 1% |