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The differences between laboratory engineers and equipment engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a laboratory engineer and an equipment engineer. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $92,242 average annual salary of a laboratory engineer.
The top three skills for a laboratory engineer include C++, lab environment and UL. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Laboratory Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,242 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $44.35 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 121,212 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A laboratory engineer specializes in designing and developing tools and machinery for laboratory operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include installing and maintaining equipment, performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with other experts, and identifying areas needing improvement, implementing solutions as required. They must also conduct regular maintenance checks on systems, performing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a laboratory engineer, it is essential to provide technical support while implementing the facility's policies and regulations.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Laboratory engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,242 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $135,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Meta | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a laboratory engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between laboratory engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Laboratory Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 14.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |