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The differences between laser engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a laser engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $85,319 average annual salary of a laser engineer.
The top three skills for a laser engineer include MATLAB, data collection and labview. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Laser Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,319 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $41.02 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 4,901 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A laser engineer is one who specializes in making and developing laser devices or machines that is for laser purposes. They supervises the laser team in operating and ensuring that all laser-related equipment is functioning well. They can also specialize in doing advanced optics or optic devices. Their responsibilities include the regular monitoring and optimization of laser outputs as well as finding out a reasonable solution on how to handles laser issues that will be arising.
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.
Laser engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laser Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,319 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $116,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Booz Allen Hamilton | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a laser engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Laser Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Physics | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between laser engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Laser Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 18.0% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 5% | 5% |