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The differences between field system 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 system engineer, becoming a field service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a field system engineer has an average salary of $91,282, which is higher than the $54,339 average annual salary of a field service technician.
The top three skills for a field system engineer include PLC, troubleshoot and customer sites. The most important skills for a field service technician are customer service, preventative maintenance, and customer satisfaction.
| Field System Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $91,282 | $54,339 |
| Hourly rate | $43.89 | $26.12 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 145,115 | 167,298 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A field system engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and applications to optimize company operations. Among their responsibilities include identifying and understanding the company's needs, conceptualizing plans, developing prototypes and test structures, troubleshooting and resolving problems, coordinating with fellow engineers, and producing progress reports as needed. They are also responsible for establishing guidelines, safety policies, and standards. Moreover, a field system engineer typically manages a junior team, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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 system engineers and field service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field System Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Average salary | $91,282 | $54,339 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $126,000 | Between $35,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | F5 | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Finance |
There are a few differences between a field system engineer and a field service technician in terms of educational background:
| Field System Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | - |
Here are the differences between field system engineers' and field service technicians' demographics:
| Field System Engineer | Field Service Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 9% | 1% |