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The differences between senior electrical design engineers and senior 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 senior 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 $104,698 average annual salary of a senior design engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electrical design engineer include electrical design, RF and PCB. The most important skills for a senior design engineer are CAD, project management, and RF.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,599 | $104,698 |
| Hourly rate | $54.13 | $50.34 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 92,795 | 127,035 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 senior design engineer is responsible for creating mechanical and electrical designs for machines and systems, following clients' specifications and business guidelines. Senior design engineers also assist junior design engineers with their tasks, sharing best practices and techniques, and suggesting adjustments as needed. They also oversee the manufacturing process, inspect possible inconsistencies, and revise plans without exceeding the agreed budget or compromising the quality. A senior design engineer must be keen with details and highly organizational, especially on meeting deadlines with the highest client satisfaction.
Senior electrical design engineers and senior design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,599 | $104,698 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $145,000 | Between $80,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Rivian | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior electrical design engineer and a senior design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 senior design engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |