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The differences between completion engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a completion engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a completion engineer has an average salary of $156,228, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a completion engineer include rig, AFE and cost estimates. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Completion Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $156,228 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $75.11 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,512 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
Completion Engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for designing and monitoring well completions and ensuring the safety of drilling completion operations. These engineers must communicate instructions to the drilling contractors for all operations while emphasizing safety, well control, and LEAN. They are required to conduct meetings on multiple onsite safety and analysis of hazardous materials to improve workplace safety. Completion Engineers must also work closely with the senior management to establish standard operating procedures that follow the industry and government regulations.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Completion engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Completion Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $156,228 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $107,000 And $227,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a completion engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Completion Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between completion engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Completion Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 17.1% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |