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The differences between product applications engineers and senior product 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 product applications engineer and a senior product engineer. Additionally, a product applications engineer has an average salary of $101,877, which is higher than the $101,685 average annual salary of a senior product engineer.
The top three skills for a product applications engineer include technical support, product line and RF. The most important skills for a senior product engineer are java, product engineering, and continuous improvement.
| Product Applications Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,877 | $101,685 |
| Hourly rate | $48.98 | $48.89 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,218 | 145,781 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A product applications engineer's job is to determine business needs and develop solutions with product managers and address customer queries and issues promptly. They typically address customer questions and issues in a timely manner. They communicate feedback from customers to the design team and provide post-sales support to make suitable modifications in product design. Moreover, it is part of their responsibility to evaluate new software products, check defects, conduct internal application trials for verification, and maintain accurate documentation of problems related to applications, including solutions.
A senior product engineer specializes in optimizing product designs and manufacturing procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are typically in charge of performing market research and analysis, utilizing the results as a basis in designing new products and upgrading existing designs. Moreover, they coordinate with product development teams to cultivate ideas, develop prototypes and test structures, and oversee the material selection that will make the products possible. As a senior product engineer, it is essential to monitor the entire progress and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Product applications engineers and senior product engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Applications Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,877 | $101,685 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $138,000 | Between $78,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cloudflare | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product applications engineer and a senior product engineer in terms of educational background:
| Product Applications Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between product applications engineers' and senior product engineers' demographics:
| Product Applications Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.6% Asian, 11.1% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 5% |