A printed circuit designer is an engineer who designs printed circuit boards for computers or other electronic equipment. Using computer-aided drafting software, these professionals design layouts of the intricate details and wiring of circuit boards that will be manufactured. Salary can vary for this occupation depending on the employer type, industry and demand for these professionals in different geographic areas. In January 2011, PayScale reported average salaries of individuals in this occupation participating in its salary survey.
Qualifications
Almost all employers require a bachelor's degree in computer hardware or electronics engineering for this occupation. Along with education, printed circuit designers should have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate with technical and non-technical teams to successfully translate ideas and concepts into technical specifications.
Average Salary
Printed circuit designers are compensated with a yearly base salary. Some employers also offer bonuses based on individual performance and profit sharing based on the organization's overall revenues. Average salaries range from $53,727 to $82,353 per year. Average bonuses range from $968 to $4,000 per year, and average profit sharing ranges from $491 to $2,035 per year.
Industry Variances
Salaries can also vary slightly by industry. Among prominent industries, the highest wages were reported in the computer hardware and software industry, averaging from $54,895 to $80,490 per year. The electronics manufacturing industry paid average salaries ranging from $52,131 to $74,871 per year. Printed circuit designers working in the telecommunications industry earned average salaries ranging from $53,805 to $76,933 per year, and those working in the aerospace and defense industry eared average salaries ranging from $53,670 to $70,236 per year.
Professional Experience
Of those reporting their wages, the largest majority of these professionals have more than 20 years of experience. Those with under four years of experience earned average salaries ranging from $38,710 to $45,781 per year. Mid-career average earnings ranged from $49,151 to $79,187 per year. The largest group, with more than 20 years of experience, earned average salaries ranging from $69,687 to $87,164 per year.
