Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between consulting engineers and contracting engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a consulting engineer and a contracting engineer. Additionally, a contracting engineer has an average salary of $122,620, which is higher than the $97,746 average annual salary of a consulting engineer.
The top three skills for a consulting engineer include java, C # and linux. The most important skills for a contracting engineer are C++, C #, and R.
| Consulting Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,746 | $122,620 |
| Hourly rate | $46.99 | $58.95 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 125,600 | 115,631 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A consulting engineer is an individual who aids in the planning, designing, and construction of a project from the public and private clients. Consulting engineers are required to advise on the best component suitable according to the needs of their clients. They can manage the project by coordinating with designers, architects, and relevant persons who have commissioned the project. They may incorporate green sustainable energy solutions based on the demands of their clients. Consulting engineers must also conduct a feasibility study and prepare the estimated cost for the project.
A contracting engineer specializes in overseeing engineering projects, focusing on the legalities of contracts between clients and engineers to ensure fairness in all parties involved. Most of their duties are administrative, such as gathering and analyzing data, conducting research and analyses, setting budgets and guidelines, drafting commercial tenders and other paperwork, maintaining records, and executing contracts. They are also responsible for handling contract issues and concerns, solving them promptly and efficiently. Additionally, a contracting engineer maintains an open communication line with all parties to ensure a smooth workflow.
Consulting engineers and contracting engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consulting Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,746 | $122,620 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $131,000 | Between $86,000 And $173,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Apple | EquiLend |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a consulting engineer and a contracting engineer in terms of educational background:
| Consulting Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between consulting engineers' and contracting engineers' demographics:
| Consulting Engineer | Contracting Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 13.8% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 11.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |