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The differences between commissioning engineers and lead 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 commissioning engineer and a lead engineer. Additionally, a commissioning engineer has an average salary of $97,374, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a commissioning engineer include HVAC, test procedures and MEP. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Commissioning Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,374 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $46.81 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 90,740 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A commissioning engineer is responsible for supporting engineering and technical projects by analyzing designs and identifying resources within budget limitations and timetables. Commissioning engineers monitor the project cycle and help the team on writing down progress observations, performing diagnostic tests, creating instructional manuals and resolutions, and ensuring healthy and productive business relationships with clients. They also coordinate with the team to suggest adjustment plans and implementing essential guidelines that would fit the market standards to attract potential clients for future profitability.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Commissioning engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commissioning Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,374 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $144,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a commissioning engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Commissioning Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between commissioning engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Commissioning Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 12.3% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |