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The differences between substations electrical engineers and senior field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a substations electrical engineer and a senior field engineer. Additionally, a senior field engineer has an average salary of $97,104, 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 a senior field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,149 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $42.38 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 44,451 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A senior field engineer is in charge of overseeing and providing technical support on-site, helping operations run smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include performing installations and upgrades, performing research and analysis, managing staff, producing progress reports, and conducting inspections, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on equipment, performing corrective repairs and adjustments when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior field engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers while implementing the site's safety policies and regulations.
Substations electrical engineers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,149 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $112,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albuquerque, NM | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Kiewit | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between a substations electrical engineer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between substations electrical engineers' and senior field engineers' demographics:
| Substations Electrical Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| 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, 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 | 6% | 6% |