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The differences between senior staff engineers and senior field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior staff engineer, becoming a senior field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior staff engineer has an average salary of $136,031, which is higher than the $97,104 average annual salary of a senior field engineer.
The top three skills for a senior staff engineer include python, java and architecture. The most important skills for a senior field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Senior Staff Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $136,031 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $65.40 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 239,752 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
A senior staff engineer is responsible for supervising a team of engineers, chemists, software developers, or molecular biologists. His/Her or her responsibilities include generating Structured Query Language (SQL) performance audit checklist template, creating SQL data query routines and functions for data extraction, and working directly with stakeholders. The job requires strong mechanical, listening, and mathematical skills and proficiency in Python programming language and computer architecture and hardware. The education requirements for the job include a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, business, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
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 staff engineers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Staff Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $136,031 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $194,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior staff engineer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Staff Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior staff engineers' and senior field engineers' demographics:
| Senior Staff Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 5% | 6% |