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The differences between commissioning engineers and senior 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 senior engineer. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $97,374 average annual salary of a commissioning engineer.
The top three skills for a commissioning engineer include HVAC, test procedures and MEP. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Commissioning Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,374 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $46.81 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 90,740 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Commissioning engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commissioning Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,374 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $144,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a commissioning engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Commissioning Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between commissioning engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Commissioning Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |