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The differences between senior engineering technicians and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior engineering technician, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $88,615 average annual salary of a senior engineering technician.
The top three skills for a senior engineering technician include java, SR and emerging technologies. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Senior Engineering Technician | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,615 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $42.60 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 94,734 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Senior Engineering Technician uses the technical principles of engineering to create and develop a project or product. They also provide technical assistance to professional engineering staff on special projects.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Senior engineering technicians and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Engineering Technician | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,615 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $123,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | California |
| Best paying company | CrowdStrike | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a senior engineering technician and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Engineering Technician | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior engineering technicians' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Senior Engineering Technician | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 11.3% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |