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The differences between junior engineers and engineering assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a junior engineer, becoming an engineering assistant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a junior engineer has an average salary of $70,653, which is higher than the $64,402 average annual salary of an engineering assistant.
The top three skills for a junior engineer include control systems, java and C++. The most important skills for an engineering assistant are troubleshoot, C++, and worksheets.
| Junior Engineer | Engineering Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $70,653 | $64,402 |
| Hourly rate | $33.97 | $30.96 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 107,703 | 53,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A Junior Engineer helps design, build, or maintain engines, machines, or public works. They work under the supervision of an engineer.
An engineering assistant is responsible for supporting the engineering department's operations under the supervision of a head engineer. Engineering assistants help with operating tools and equipment, developing and analyzing designs, communicating with clients by responding to their inquiries and concerns, creating project plans, and identifying business opportunities to generate revenues and increase profitability. An engineering assistant must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and processes to carry out tasks within strict deadlines and under minimal supervision.
Junior engineers and engineering assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Engineer | Engineering Assistant | |
| Average salary | $70,653 | $64,402 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $91,000 | Between $41,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a junior engineer and an engineering assistant in terms of educational background:
| Junior Engineer | Engineering Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between junior engineers' and engineering assistants' demographics:
| Junior Engineer | Engineering Assistant | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 68.8% Female, 31.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.2% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |