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The differences between drive test engineers and cost 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 drive test engineer and a cost engineer. Additionally, a cost engineer has an average salary of $87,901, which is higher than the $76,872 average annual salary of a drive test engineer.
The top three skills for a drive test engineer include data collection, GPS and pre. The most important skills for a cost engineer are project management, cost analysis, and construction management.
| Drive Test Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,872 | $87,901 |
| Hourly rate | $36.96 | $42.26 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 36,537 | 65,278 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
For cars and other automobiles' best performance, drive test engineers can be asked for suggestions. From their expertise, one can ensure that the chosen car is equipped with the necessary accessories such as GPS, Bluetooth hubs, an air conditioner, locks, and USB ports. They train and teach people how to drive safely, following road laws and protocols. They monitor for enhancements and provide reports to stakeholders and managers for its application. They can troubleshoot minor software problems in automobiles.
A cost engineer is responsible for projecting cost and expenses reports for the production process, identify and mitigate risks, and develop strategic techniques to reduce the excessive financial loss for project buildings. Cost engineers conduct data and statistical analysis to measure time deliverables and quality checks to ensure profitability and adherence to business objectives. They research and negotiate materials from trusted suppliers and vendors with high-quality products that would meet construction designs and client specifications.
Drive test engineers and cost engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drive Test Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,872 | $87,901 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $103,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Energy |
There are a few differences between a drive test engineer and a cost engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drive Test Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between drive test engineers' and cost engineers' demographics:
| Drive Test Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.9% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |