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The differences between senior electrical design engineers and senior 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 senior field engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical design engineer has an average salary of $112,599, which is higher than the $97,104 average annual salary of a senior field engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electrical design engineer include electrical design, RF and PCB. The most important skills for a senior field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,599 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $54.13 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 92,795 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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 senior field engineer is in charge of overseeing and providing technical support on-site, helping operations run smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include performing installations and upgrades, performing research and analysis, managing staff, producing progress reports, and conducting inspections, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on equipment, performing corrective repairs and adjustments when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior field engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers while implementing the site's safety policies and regulations.
Senior electrical design engineers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,599 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $145,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior electrical design engineer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior electrical design engineers' and senior field engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| 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% |