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The differences between drilling engineers and construction engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a drilling engineer, becoming a construction engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a drilling engineer has an average salary of $101,225, which is higher than the $74,680 average annual salary of a construction engineer.
The top three skills for a drilling engineer include cost estimates, well design and data analysis. The most important skills for a construction engineer are tractor trailer, construction sites, and cranes.
| Drilling Engineer | Construction Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,225 | $74,680 |
| Hourly rate | $48.67 | $35.90 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 25,035 | 51,380 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
A drilling engineer specializes in planning and overseeing a gas and oil company's drilling operations. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis, coordinating with other experts and contractors, examining and evaluating the quality of drilling sites, and liaising with external parties. Furthermore, as a drilling engineer, it is essential to monitor the progress of operations and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and safety regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment.
A Construction Engineer designs, coordinates, and supervises projects within the construction industry. They conduct surveys, analyze results, and supervise projects from the cradle to the grave.
Drilling engineers and construction engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drilling Engineer | Construction Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,225 | $74,680 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $155,000 | Between $55,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New York |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a drilling engineer and a construction engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drilling Engineer | Construction Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | New York University |
Here are the differences between drilling engineers' and construction engineers' demographics:
| Drilling Engineer | Construction Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |