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The differences between senior electrical design engineers and field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a senior electrical design engineer and a field engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical design engineer has an average salary of $112,599, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electrical design engineer include electrical design, RF and PCB. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,599 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $54.13 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 92,795 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A senior electrical design engineer specializes in designing and developing small and large-scale electrical systems and structures. They may work in different industries such as telecommunications, power generation, and even manufacturing. Their duties typically include identifying and meeting the needs of clients or companies, producing and presenting drafts and diagrams, managing budgets and schedules, and establishing guidelines for a smooth and safe workflow. Above all, as a senior engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to fellow engineers, all while implementing the company's safety regulations and policies.
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.
Senior electrical design engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,599 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $145,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior electrical design engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | 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 senior electrical design engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 6% | 6% |