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The differences between consulting engineers and lead 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 lead engineer. Additionally, a consulting engineer has an average salary of $97,746, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a consulting engineer include java, C # and linux. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Consulting Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,746 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $46.99 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 125,600 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Consulting engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consulting Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,746 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $131,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a consulting engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Consulting Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between consulting engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Consulting Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |