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The differences between construction consultants 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 construction consultant, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $68,461 average annual salary of a construction consultant.
The top three skills for a construction consultant include construction management, general contractors and cost estimates. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Construction Consultant | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $68,461 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $32.91 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 35,537 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
Construction consultants are experts in the construction industry that offer their clients advice on architecture, contracts, project management, etc. These consultants provide definitions of what projects entail, advise how to set up projects, and inspect the contractor's work. They need strong communication skills, business skills, and teamwork skills to do their jobs efficiently. Their job is to inspect every phase of a project to ensure that they follow the agreed design and to approve or deny changes before they are applied.
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.
Construction consultants and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Consultant | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $68,461 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $98,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a construction consultant and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Construction Consultant | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between construction consultants' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Construction Consultant | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 70.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 4% | 5% |