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The differences between construction project engineers and construction managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a construction project engineer, becoming a construction manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a construction manager has an average salary of $81,313, which is higher than the $68,635 average annual salary of a construction project engineer.
The top three skills for a construction project engineer include construction management, project management and construction materials. The most important skills for a construction manager are project management, construction management, and construction projects.
| Construction Project Engineer | Construction Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $68,635 | $81,313 |
| Hourly rate | $33.00 | $39.09 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 66,147 | 44,431 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
A construction project engineer specializes in performing technical work while coordinating clients, managers, subcontractors, and suppliers, ensuring efficient and safe operations. Moreover, their responsibilities revolve around reviewing overall construction plans and blueprints, delegating tasks, gathering data, producing progress reports, developing project objectives, and monitoring construction progress while prioritizing the budget and deadlines. They may also control project plans, assess workforce performance, and maintain daily records. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to safety policies and regulations to maintain a safe work environment for everyone.
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.
Construction project engineers and construction managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Project Engineer | Construction Manager | |
| Average salary | $68,635 | $81,313 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $87,000 | Between $54,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Abbott | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a construction project engineer and a construction manager in terms of educational background:
| Construction Project Engineer | Construction Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between construction project engineers' and construction managers' demographics:
| Construction Project Engineer | Construction Manager | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 11.4% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |