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Civil engineer vs assistant project engineer

The differences between civil engineers and assistant project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a civil engineer and an assistant project engineer. Additionally, a civil engineer has an average salary of $70,950, which is higher than the $70,944 average annual salary of an assistant project engineer.

The top three skills for a civil engineer include civil 3d, engineering design and cost estimates. The most important skills for an assistant project engineer are shop drawings, contract drawings, and construction management.

Civil engineer vs assistant project engineer overview

Civil EngineerAssistant Project Engineer
Yearly salary$70,950$70,944
Hourly rate$34.11$34.11
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs26,80332,602
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does a civil engineer do?

A civil engineer designs and supervises the construction of large-scale public works projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, highways, airports, bridges, dams, and other substantial infrastructure. Most civil engineers work in the private industry, but some work for a government organization. Their output is almost everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific project or practice a target profession such as in transportation, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering. They oftentimes work at project sites, as they monitor the ongoing construction.

What does an assistant project engineer do?

An assistant project engineer performs support tasks to assist project engineers in overseeing and managing engineering projects. Their responsibilities include conducting inspections and assessments, performing research and analyses, processing documents and certifications, managing schedules, liaising with internal and external parties, and providing technical support to staff as necessary. Besides reporting directly to the project engineer, they also work together in implementing policies and monitoring operations to ensure that engineering projects adhere to project guidelines and requirements.

Civil engineer vs assistant project engineer salary

Civil engineers and assistant project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Civil EngineerAssistant Project Engineer
Average salary$70,950$70,944
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $97,000Between $55,000 And $90,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAHayward, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaOklahoma
Best paying companyThe CitadelWestinghouse Appliances Australia
Best paying industryConstructionManufacturing

Differences between civil engineer and assistant project engineer education

There are a few differences between a civil engineer and an assistant project engineer in terms of educational background:

Civil EngineerAssistant Project Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringCivil Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborColumbia University in the City of New York

Civil engineer vs assistant project engineer demographics

Here are the differences between civil engineers' and assistant project engineers' demographics:

Civil EngineerAssistant Project Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 83.6% Female, 16.4%Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.6% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 17.3% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between civil engineer and assistant project engineer duties and responsibilities

Civil engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of full sets of contract documents (grading, drainage, water, sewer, paving and SWPPP).
  • Manage project programming requirements and manage HVAC design activities.
  • Project manage the overall reorganizing and restructuring of the telecommunication department.
  • Design engineer and project manager for HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems.
  • Support and troubleshoot Hewlett Packard printers, servers, switches, thin clients, and Cisco phone systems.
  • Handle and continuously update project documentation as as-built records and construction record reports.
  • Show more

Assistant project engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
  • Request for information (RFI) review/ submission and maintenance of (RFI) log.
  • Maintain online communication logs for RFI s, current drawings set, and subcontractor correspondence relating to invoicing.
  • Enhance SCR system performance for internal combustion engine applications and provide compliance assurance through system troubleshooting and modifying existing PLC programming.
  • Research test and optimize a GPS tracking and navigational software for trucking shipments.
  • Create plans after doing complicate calculations to construct plumbing and electrical lines throughout commercial and residential properties.

Civil engineer vs assistant project engineer skills

Common civil engineer skills
  • Civil 3D, 11%
  • Engineering Design, 7%
  • Cost Estimates, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Construction Projects, 4%
  • Engineering Projects, 4%
Common assistant project engineer skills
  • Shop Drawings, 9%
  • Contract Drawings, 9%
  • Construction Management, 8%
  • Geotechnical, 7%
  • Construction Projects, 7%
  • RFI, 6%

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