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The differences between senior electrical design engineers and lead design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior electrical design engineer, becoming a lead design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior electrical design engineer has an average salary of $112,599, which is higher than the $108,490 average annual salary of a lead design engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electrical design engineer include electrical design, RF and PCB. The most important skills for a lead design engineer are CAD, project management, and lead design.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,599 | $108,490 |
| Hourly rate | $54.13 | $52.16 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 92,795 | 118,073 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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 Lead Design Engineer produces design solutions that can be purchased, installed, and commissioned effectively. They are also responsible for the cost-effectiviness and safety of new designs.
Senior electrical design engineers and lead design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,599 | $108,490 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $145,000 | Between $82,000 And $143,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Agriculture |
There are a few differences between a senior electrical design engineer and a lead design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior electrical design engineers' and lead design engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 15.5% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |