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The differences between drilling engineers and 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 an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a drilling engineer has an average salary of $101,225, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a drilling engineer include cost estimates, well design and data analysis. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Drilling Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,225 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $48.67 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 25,035 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| 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.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Drilling engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drilling Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,225 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $155,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a drilling engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drilling Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between drilling engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Drilling Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |