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The differences between staff electrical engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a staff electrical engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a staff electrical engineer has an average salary of $112,225, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a staff electrical engineer include electrical engineering, analog and electrical systems. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,225 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $53.95 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 129,667 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A staff electrical engineer specializes in designing and developing electrical systems and equipment. Their responsibilities typically include understanding the project's needs, conducting research and analysis, creating prototypes and test structures, performing installations and adjustments, resolving and repairing issues, and developing strategies to enhance existing systems. They must also perform regular maintenance checks to maintain a safe and efficient work environment. Moreover, a staff electrical engineer may train junior engineers while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Staff electrical engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,225 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $152,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a staff electrical engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between staff electrical engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.1% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |