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Solar designer vs senior electrical engineer

The differences between solar designers and senior electrical 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 solar designer and a senior electrical engineer. Additionally, a senior electrical engineer has an average salary of $109,315, which is higher than the $58,292 average annual salary of a solar designer.

The top three skills for a solar designer include CAD, system design and solar power. The most important skills for a senior electrical engineer are control systems, electrical equipment, and electrical systems.

Solar designer vs senior electrical engineer overview

Solar DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Yearly salary$58,292$109,315
Hourly rate$28.02$52.56
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs46,16082,639
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

Solar designer vs senior electrical engineer salary

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

Solar DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Average salary$58,292$109,315
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $94,000Between $82,000 And $144,000
Highest paying CityPetaluma, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companySmith & AssociatesApple
Best paying industryProfessionalTechnology

Differences between solar designer and senior electrical engineer education

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

Solar DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityMichigan Technological University

Solar designer vs senior electrical engineer demographics

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

Solar DesignerSenior Electrical Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 88.1% Female, 11.9%Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between solar designer and senior electrical engineer duties and responsibilities

Solar designer example responsibilities.

  • Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
  • Use of SalesForce, SketchUp, Pictometry & SunCalc to complete design to local AHJ requirements.
  • Base on previous data, optimize the amount of cushioning material for balancing battery protection and weight.
  • Design electrical and structural plans for permitting and commissioning at multiple AHJ's and utility companies in AZ.
  • Determine roof pitch, azimuth, obstructions, BOM & conduit routing for optimum lifetime performance & cost.
  • Provide AutoCAD drawings and support electrical engineers in construction and renovation of custom homes.
  • Show more

Senior electrical engineer example responsibilities.

  • Develop LabVIEW code to automate test procedures and to communicate with units for verification of functionality and accuracy.
  • Design of water/waste water facilities, including microprocessor controls, MCC, SCADA.
  • Develop the motor control algorithms and analog processing for sensing position using motor current feedback.
  • Train crews how to retrofit 2x4 fixtures.
  • Perform dc battery calculations and 2D design of system.
  • Have installed some electrical panel board according to NFPA standards.
  • Show more

Solar designer vs senior electrical engineer skills

Common solar designer skills
  • CAD, 36%
  • System Design, 24%
  • Solar Power, 13%
  • Solar PV, 8%
  • Solar Panels, 6%
  • Line Diagrams, 4%
Common senior electrical engineer skills
  • Control Systems, 5%
  • Electrical Equipment, 5%
  • Electrical Systems, 4%
  • Analog, 4%
  • RF, 4%
  • Electrical Design, 4%

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