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The differences between standards engineers and staff engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a standards engineer, becoming a staff engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, which is higher than the $97,266 average annual salary of a standards engineer.
The top three skills for a standards engineer include CAD, ISO and IP. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Standards Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,266 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $46.76 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 44,996 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
As a standards engineer, one focuses on the standards and specifications to which people work, how engineering products are developed, and where their quality is based. Standards engineers create technical and engineering applications and limitations for designs, materials, methods, and engineering practices. The engineers work with industrial organization management to maintain a harmonious relationship. They share their knowledge and expertise in engineering technicalities with the field staff. They are effective in carrying out their duties if they have skills in communication, teamwork, innovation, and attention to detail.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Standards engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Standards Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,266 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $149,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | - | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a standards engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Standards Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between standards engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Standards Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 12.1% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |