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The differences between consulting engineers and project 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 project engineer. Additionally, a consulting engineer has an average salary of $97,746, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a consulting engineer include java, C # and linux. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Consulting Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,746 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $46.99 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 125,600 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 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.
Consulting engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consulting Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,746 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $131,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a consulting engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Consulting Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 project engineers' demographics:
| Consulting Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |