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The differences between specialist field engineers and field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a specialist field engineer, becoming a field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a field engineer has an average salary of $71,874, which is higher than the $56,430 average annual salary of a specialist field engineer.
The top three skills for a specialist field engineer include oil gas, technical support and customer support. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Specialist Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $56,430 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $27.13 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 85,618 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
A specialist field engineer works in construction areas or factories. They conduct on-site research, diagnose machinery problems, and make repairs. They also install new systems as necessary. They prepare purchase agreements, confidentiality agreements, and reports.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Specialist field engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specialist Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $56,430 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $78,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a specialist field engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Specialist Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between specialist field engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Specialist Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 17.1% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |