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The differences between semiconductor engineers and product development 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 semiconductor engineer, becoming a product development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a semiconductor engineer has an average salary of $96,951, which is higher than the $86,075 average annual salary of a product development engineer.
The top three skills for a semiconductor engineer include data analysis, RF and failure analysis. The most important skills for a product development engineer are CAD, solidworks, and product development.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,951 | $86,075 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $41.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 37,162 | 202,155 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
As a semiconductor engineer, your main job is to make semiconductors that are mostly made out of silicon. You have to create electrical products that enable the integration of workers, materials, and machines. Semiconductor engineers increase the efficiency of these semiconductors and develop new technologies for creating semiconductors for electric circuitry.
A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.
Semiconductor engineers and product development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,951 | $86,075 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $134,000 | Between $64,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a semiconductor engineer and a product development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between semiconductor engineers' and product development engineers' demographics:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.0% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |