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The differences between senior electrical engineers and 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 engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electrical engineer include control systems, electrical equipment and electrical systems. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $109,315 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $52.56 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,639 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A senior electrical engineer is an individual who leads other engineers to review electrical design plans and analyze existing electrical systems. Senior electrical engineers must establish relationships with clients, vendors, and suppliers to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications. They create project budgets and produce working schedules and company regulations to make sure that a safe and positive working environment is achieved. Senior electrical engineers must be passionate about engineering development by attending electrical conferences and events.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Senior electrical engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $109,315 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $144,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior electrical engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior electrical engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.5% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |