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Construction project engineer vs structural designer

The differences between construction project engineers and structural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a construction project engineer and a structural designer. Additionally, a construction project engineer has an average salary of $68,635, which is higher than the $63,273 average annual salary of a structural designer.

The top three skills for a construction project engineer include construction management, project management and construction materials. The most important skills for a structural designer are revit, structural design, and BIM.

Construction project engineer vs structural designer overview

Construction Project EngineerStructural Designer
Yearly salary$68,635$63,273
Hourly rate$33.00$30.42
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs66,14751,432
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does a construction project engineer do?

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.

What does a structural designer do?

A Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.

Construction project engineer vs structural designer salary

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

Construction Project EngineerStructural Designer
Average salary$68,635$63,273
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $87,000Between $47,000 And $84,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAbbottTesla
Best paying industryHealth CareConstruction

Differences between construction project engineer and structural designer education

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

Construction Project EngineerStructural Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringDrafting And Design
Most common collegeColumbia University in the City of New YorkCarnegie Mellon University

Construction project engineer vs structural designer demographics

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

Construction Project EngineerStructural Designer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 90.3% Female, 9.7%Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6%
Race ratioBlack 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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between construction project engineer and structural designer duties and responsibilities

Construction project engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage roll-out and operation of new site CMMS system, ARCHIbus.
  • Ensure the quick responses from designers for RFI (s) for all project manage and oversee.
  • Facilitate coordination between MEP trades and manage finishes.
  • Manage QA activities and maintain up-to-date quality control system.
  • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
  • Lead teams in FDA compliance, IQ-OQ-PQ validation methods.
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Structural designer example responsibilities.

  • Field route pipe systems; manage line and pipe support list; ISO s for fabrication / installation.
  • Assure compliance with refinery and OSHA safety requirements in selecting, locating and hookup of equipment.
  • Develop record system, QA & QC policies and procedures, peer review system to reduce installation errors.
  • Provide general arrangement, detail, and design drawings of ladders, platforms, and frame structure for the following projects.
  • Prepare AutoCAD engineering drawings of structural components for natural gas turbine compressor stations.
  • Programme PLC, VFD and SCADA equipment.
  • Show more

Construction project engineer vs structural designer skills

Common construction project engineer skills
  • Construction Management, 20%
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Construction Materials, 6%
  • Construction Projects, 6%
  • Shop Drawings, 4%
  • Meeting Minutes, 4%
Common structural designer skills
  • Revit, 14%
  • Structural Design, 10%
  • BIM, 5%
  • Navisworks, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • Engineering Design, 4%

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