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The differences between substations 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 substations electrical engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $88,149 average annual salary of a substations electrical engineer.
The top three skills for a substations electrical engineer include IEEE, ac and dc. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,149 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $42.38 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 44,451 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Substation electrical engineers are engineering professionals who design medium and high voltage substations that are used to transmit and distribute electricity. These engineers are required to maintain substation equipment specifications that are according to the current industry standards and operating policies. They must review design drawings and perform load analysis to select the overall platform's power requirements. Substation electrical engineers must also provide cost estimates for substation projects as well as prepare layout drawings for future substation expansion.
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.
Substations electrical engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,149 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $112,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albuquerque, NM | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Kiewit | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a substations electrical engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | 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 substations electrical engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 16.5% White, 62.7% 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% |