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The differences between firmware engineers and 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 firmware engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a firmware engineer has an average salary of $97,183, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a firmware engineer include python, C and C++. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Firmware Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,183 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $46.72 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 99,014 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
The job of firmware engineers focuses on the hardware from which the software runs. They play an important role in supporting the life cycle of products from its development to implementation. Their duties typically include testing the product properly and troubleshooting technical issues in collaboration with other engineering personnel, evaluating the performance of the system and ensuring that it adheres to the company's standards, and analyzing the design and needs of a system. Firmware engineers are also responsible for improvising the software as requested by clients.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Firmware engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Firmware Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,183 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $129,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Meta | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a firmware engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Firmware Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between firmware engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Firmware Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.6% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |