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The differences between pcb designers and designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a pcb designer, becoming a designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a pcb designer has an average salary of $74,841, which is higher than the $66,347 average annual salary of a designer.
The top three skills for a pcb designer include RF, DFM and pcb layout. The most important skills for a designer are sketch, customer service, and graphic design.
| PCB Designer | Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,841 | $66,347 |
| Hourly rate | $35.98 | $31.90 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 72,971 | 52,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
PCB designers are professionals who use computer software programs to design printed circuit boards (PCBs), an electronic circuit that supports electronic components such as transistors, diodes, and capacitors. These designers must design and implement various circuit boards and perform revisions to apply changes that are based on the specifications of customers and engineers. They need to collaborate with the companies that fabricate and assemble PCBs to discuss the quality, cost-effective, and timely deliveries of PCBs. PCB designers must also use AutoCAD software to design schematics for the PCB systems.
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
Pcb designers and designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| PCB Designer | Designer | |
| Average salary | $74,841 | $66,347 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $116,000 | Between $45,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a pcb designer and a designer in terms of educational background:
| PCB Designer | Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between pcb designers' and designers' demographics:
| PCB Designer | Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.6% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 13% |