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The differences between acoustical engineers and consulting engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an acoustical engineer and a consulting engineer. Additionally, a consulting engineer has an average salary of $97,746, which is higher than the $93,808 average annual salary of an acoustical engineer.
The top three skills for an acoustical engineer include transducers, data analysis and DSP. The most important skills for a consulting engineer are java, C #, and linux.
| Acoustical Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,808 | $97,746 |
| Hourly rate | $45.10 | $46.99 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 74,331 | 125,600 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An acoustical engineer works primarily with sound; they reduce noise pollution in areas like construction sites and airports. Noise pollution is particularly hard to contain, which means an acoustical engineer is essential to manage the potential hazards of constant high-decibel sounds. Their job involves inspecting a location, determining the loudest areas, recommending measures to minimize noise pollution, and implementing all approved recommendations.
A consulting engineer is an individual who aids in the planning, designing, and construction of a project from the public and private clients. Consulting engineers are required to advise on the best component suitable according to the needs of their clients. They can manage the project by coordinating with designers, architects, and relevant persons who have commissioned the project. They may incorporate green sustainable energy solutions based on the demands of their clients. Consulting engineers must also conduct a feasibility study and prepare the estimated cost for the project.
Acoustical engineers and consulting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acoustical Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,808 | $97,746 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $126,000 | Between $72,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an acoustical engineer and a consulting engineer in terms of educational background:
| Acoustical Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between acoustical engineers' and consulting engineers' demographics:
| Acoustical Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 15.7% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 13.8% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |