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The differences between senior electrical design engineers and staff 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 staff 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 $107,530 average annual salary of a staff engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electrical design engineer include electrical design, RF and PCB. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,599 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $54.13 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 92,795 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Senior electrical design engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,599 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $145,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a senior electrical design engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 staff engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electrical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |