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The differences between field support engineers and senior field 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 support engineer and a senior field engineer. Additionally, a senior field engineer has an average salary of $97,104, which is higher than the $96,499 average annual salary of a field support engineer.
The top three skills for a field support engineer include technical support, troubleshoot and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a senior field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Field Support Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,499 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $46.39 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 174,765 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Field support engineers are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for providing on-site functions for the network systems of clients. These engineers must assist their clients in solving complex technical issues to reduce the occurrence of network connectivity issues. They must perform routine maintenance checkups to ensure that the network systems of their clients are operating consistently and efficiently. Field support engineers are also required to offer guidance and training to the client personnel to educate them about the operation of the product as well as maintenance procedures.
A senior field engineer is in charge of overseeing and providing technical support on-site, helping operations run smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include performing installations and upgrades, performing research and analysis, managing staff, producing progress reports, and conducting inspections, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on equipment, performing corrective repairs and adjustments when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior field engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers while implementing the site's safety policies and regulations.
Field support engineers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Support Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,499 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $142,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a field support engineer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Field Support Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between field support engineers' and senior field engineers' demographics:
| Field Support Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.3% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |