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The differences between automotive 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 automotive engineer and a consulting engineer. Additionally, a consulting engineer has an average salary of $97,746, which is higher than the $82,211 average annual salary of an automotive engineer.
The top three skills for an automotive engineer include CAD, ISO and adaptive. The most important skills for a consulting engineer are java, C #, and linux.
| Automotive Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,211 | $97,746 |
| Hourly rate | $39.52 | $46.99 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 104,464 | 125,600 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An automotive engineer specializes in designing and developing vehicles for public or private use. Their job entails conducting extensive research and analyses, conceptualizing plans with fellow experts, building prototypes and structures, troubleshooting problems, and implementing multiple test procedures to identify how the vehicle operates at different conditions and ensure its quality adheres to standards and regulations. Besides developing new vehicles, an automotive engineer may also modify existing models, which requires them to study the market and consumers' feedback, identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, and coordinate upgrades.
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.
Automotive engineers and consulting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,211 | $97,746 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $118,000 | Between $72,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Belmont, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Cal | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between an automotive engineer and a consulting engineer in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between automotive engineers' and consulting engineers' demographics:
| Automotive Engineer | Consulting Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 15.9% White, 67.7% 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% |