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Construction Manager Vs Project Engineer

The differences between construction managers and project 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 manager, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a construction manager has an average salary of $81,313, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.

The top three skills for a construction manager include project management, construction management and construction projects. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.

Construction manager vs project engineer overview

Construction ManagerProject Engineer
Yearly Salary$81,313$75,050
Hourly rate$39.09$36.08
Growth Rate8%2%
Number Of Jobs44,431176,689
Job Satisfaction--
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average Age4641
Years Of Experience86

What does a Construction Manager do?

A construction manager oversees a construction site and its workers, ensuring efficiency in the workforce and overall operations. They work in an office within the construction site to meet and coordinate with architects, contractors, and clients. They must also hire the required workforce, identify and resolve issues, maintain daily reports and communication with clients, and prioritize a safe work environment. Above all, they must see that all of the required protocols are met, including the target completion time and budget.

What does a project engineer do?

A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.

Construction manager vs project engineer salary

Construction managers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction ManagerProject Engineer
Average Salary$81,313$75,050
Salary RangeBetween $54,000 And $120,000Between $55,000 And $100,000
Highest Paying CitySan Francisco, CARichmond, CA
Highest Paying StateHawaiiWashington
Best Paying CompanyMetaApple
Best Paying IndustryTechnologyEnergy

Differences between construction manager and project engineer education

There are a few differences between a construction manager and a project engineer in terms of educational background:

Construction ManagerProject Engineer
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most Common MajorBusinessMechanical Engineering
Most Common CollegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Construction manager vs project engineer demographics

Here are the differences between construction managers' and project engineers' demographics:

Construction ManagerProject Engineer
Average Age4641
Gender RatioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9%
Race RatioBlack or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage4%5%

Differences between construction manager and project engineer duties and responsibilities

Construction Manager Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage three geotechnical engineers, a general contractor , 45 sub-contractors, and consultants.
  • Manage all contractor-relate tasks from RFI submissions through payment administration.
  • Manage and coordinate architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers and subcontractors technical departments.
  • Manage complete design and construction coordination of company's retail properties throughout the Washington/Baltimore area market.
  • Manage third party contractors, including safety oversight, control inspection and environmental design specification compliance, and also direct consultants.
  • Implement and maintain construction safety regulations according to OSHA requirements, and ensure environmental protection regulatory compliance with engineering standards.
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Project Engineer Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage TCP/IP LAN environment for the time during implementation.
  • Support and manage the development of a CNC base electron beam drill.
  • Lead a MGPP six sigma project to improve the accuracy of 3D clutch cooling analysis
  • Manage the BHP enterprise wide migration from e-rooms to SharePoint for document management and team collaboration.
  • Manage the installation of a CNC laser cutting system with full responsibility for all aspects of the project.
  • Coordinate and manage activities of the 787-9 IPT's to complete the specific aircraft side of the test cells.
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Construction manager vs project engineer skills

Common Construction Manager Skills
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Construction Management, 12%
  • Construction Projects, 9%
  • OSHA, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Oversight, 4%
Common Project Engineer Skills
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Autocad, 7%
  • Construction Management, 6%
  • CAD, 4%
  • UL, 4%
  • Cost Estimates, 3%

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