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The differences between senior electrical 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 engineer and a senior field engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, which is higher than the $97,104 average annual salary of a senior field engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electrical engineer include control systems, electrical equipment and electrical systems. The most important skills for a senior field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $109,315 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $52.56 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 82,639 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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 engineers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $109,315 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $144,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior electrical engineer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrical 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 engineers' and senior field engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| 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, 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% |