Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between application engineers and 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 application engineer and an engineer. Additionally, an application engineer has an average salary of $92,921, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for an application engineer include technical support, java and C++. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Application Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,921 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $44.67 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 111,338 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs. They also generate ideas and locate other business opportunities by analyzing current trends in the technology market that would help build revenues and increase profitability for the company. An application engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, software application processes, and general technology disciplines.
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.
Application engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Application Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,921 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Morgan Lewis | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an application engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Application Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between application engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Application Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 11.5% White, 74.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 7% | 5% |