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The differences between bridge design engineers and building engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a bridge design engineer, becoming a building engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a building engineer has an average salary of $76,446, which is higher than the $70,594 average annual salary of a bridge design engineer.
The top three skills for a bridge design engineer include civil engineering, CAD and structural design. The most important skills for a building engineer are HVAC, ladders, and plumbing.
| Bridge Design Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,594 | $76,446 |
| Hourly rate | $33.94 | $36.75 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 47,376 | 13,440 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A bridge design engineer plans and oversees bridge development projects. Through their expertise, a bridge design engineer creates structural designs for building or restoring bridges, developing guidelines for structural repairs, preparing drafts according to project requirements, and providing technical support to different teams. They meet with clients or representatives to discuss requirements, specifications, and cost estimates. They may also answer inquiries and recommend other options, revising drafts when necessary. Moreover, as a bridge design engineer, they are responsible for managing and overseeing staff while implementing project standards and regulations.
The job of building engineers is to provide advice on design, installation, and maintenance of energy-efficient and cost-effective systems for all building services, including lighting, water, and air conditioning. These professionals are responsible for the distribution of water supply and electricity and resolving tenants' maintenance problems such as plumbing and electrical systems. Additional duties of the building engineers include conducting tests on systems, ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements, and liaising with construction professionals like surveyors and electricians.
Bridge design engineers and building engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bridge Design Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,594 | $76,446 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $89,000 | Between $49,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | CnS | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a bridge design engineer and a building engineer in terms of educational background:
| Bridge Design Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | - |
Here are the differences between bridge design engineers' and building engineers' demographics:
| Bridge Design Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.3% Female, 16.7% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 17.8% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 2% |