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The differences between field system engineers and senior engineers 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 senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $91,282 average annual salary of a field system engineer.
The top three skills for a field system engineer include PLC, troubleshoot and customer sites. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Field System Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,282 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $43.89 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 145,115 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Field system engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field System Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $91,282 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $126,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | F5 | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a field system engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Field System Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between field system engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Field System Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |