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The differences between consulting engineers and structures 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 structures engineer. Additionally, a consulting engineer has an average salary of $97,746, which is higher than the $73,391 average annual salary of a structures engineer.
The top three skills for a consulting engineer include java, C # and linux. The most important skills for a structures engineer are structural analysis, revit, and RISA.
| Consulting Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,746 | $73,391 |
| Hourly rate | $46.99 | $35.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 125,600 | 20,778 |
| 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 structures engineer works in designing, planning, and overseeing the development of the latest buildings and bridges or modifications and extensions to an existing property or other structures. They are mainly concerned with the safety and capability of the structure to withstand the elements to which they will be exposed--also improving the existing building structural integrity. Part of the task is inspecting properties regarding the conditions/foundation and checking work undertaken by contractors. The job is very similarly related to a civil engineer.
Consulting engineers and structures engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consulting Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,746 | $73,391 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $131,000 | Between $54,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a consulting engineer and a structures engineer in terms of educational background:
| Consulting Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between consulting engineers' and structures engineers' demographics:
| Consulting Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% |
| 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, 10.3% Asian, 17.3% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |