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The differences between staff electrical engineers and senior 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 a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a staff electrical engineer has an average salary of $112,225, which is higher than the $108,743 average annual salary of a senior engineer.
The top three skills for a staff electrical engineer include electrical engineering, analog and electrical systems. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $112,225 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $53.95 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 129,667 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Staff electrical engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $112,225 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $152,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a staff electrical engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between staff electrical engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Staff Electrical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |