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The differences between laboratory engineers and field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a laboratory engineer, becoming a field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory engineer has an average salary of $92,242, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a laboratory engineer include C++, lab environment and UL. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Laboratory Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,242 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $44.35 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 121,212 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Laboratory engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,242 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $135,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a laboratory engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between laboratory engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Laboratory Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |