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Signal engineer vs electrical designer

The differences between signal engineers and electrical designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a signal engineer and an electrical designer. Additionally, a signal engineer has an average salary of $87,939, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.

The top three skills for a signal engineer include field testing, control systems and project management. The most important skills for an electrical designer are revit, electrical design, and autocad electrical.

Signal engineer vs electrical designer overview

Signal EngineerElectrical Designer
Yearly salary$87,939$64,930
Hourly rate$42.28$31.22
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs25,69982,332
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Associate Degree, 47%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does a signal engineer do?

A signal engineer holds the responsibility of conducting feasibility studies, cost estimates, planning, budgeting, and administration relating to signal issues. They manage approved work programs for traffic signals, resolve issues with existing traffic signals, and oversee members of the traffic signal staff.

What does an electrical designer do?

An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.

Signal engineer vs electrical designer salary

Signal engineers and electrical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Signal EngineerElectrical Designer
Average salary$87,939$64,930
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $129,000Between $47,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleAmd
Best paying industryTechnologyManufacturing

Differences between signal engineer and electrical designer education

There are a few differences between a signal engineer and an electrical designer in terms of educational background:

Signal EngineerElectrical Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Associate Degree, 47%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeMichigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University

Signal engineer vs electrical designer demographics

Here are the differences between signal engineers' and electrical designers' demographics:

Signal EngineerElectrical Designer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 93.6% Female, 6.4%Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 18.8% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between signal engineer and electrical designer duties and responsibilities

Signal engineer example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate with senior electrical engineers and achieve hands-on experience on coal fire plant power generation and power transformers, circuit breakers.
  • Develop and debug RTL for MIPI controller in RF front end applications.
  • Carry out layout of CMOS mixed-signal circuits used in PCI-Express and SERDES products.
  • Define and implement AutoCAD requirements to meet the client's design standards.
  • Draft blueprints using AutoCAD for track wiring and other utilities in confine city areas.
  • Calculate and check braking distance base on given speed limit and relate railway information.
  • Show more

Electrical designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
  • Design control systems to NFPA, UL, and CE specifications to comply with country-specific standards.
  • Work conduct using PDMS, NavisWorks and AutoCAD.
  • Used INTOOLS to input instrument tags into index, customize reports & import data from PDMS into INTOOLS.
  • Integrate electrical & electronic designs into custom automation equipment using 2D & 3D design software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks).
  • Convert various units to DCS for ExxonMobil.
  • Show more

Signal engineer vs electrical designer skills

Common signal engineer skills
  • Field Testing, 9%
  • Control Systems, 8%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Autocad, 7%
  • MATLAB, 6%
  • Signal Design, 6%
Common electrical designer skills
  • Revit, 14%
  • Electrical Design, 11%
  • Autocad Electrical, 5%
  • UL, 5%
  • Electrical Systems, 5%
  • Electrical Schematics, 4%

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