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The differences between completion engineers and mechanical 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 a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a completion engineer has an average salary of $156,228, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a completion engineer include rig, AFE and cost estimates. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Completion Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $156,228 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $75.11 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,512 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Completion engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Completion Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $156,228 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $107,000 And $227,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Energy |
There are a few differences between a completion engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Completion Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between completion engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Completion Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |