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The differences between electrical maintenance engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an electrical maintenance engineer, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an electrical maintenance engineer has an average salary of $77,585, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical maintenance engineer include PLC, electrical equipment and control systems. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,585 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $37.30 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 90,479 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
As a part of the maintenance team, the electrical maintenance engineer is responsible for maintaining electrical fixtures used by establishments. They install electrical equipment such as switches and elevators, repair if the damage is present, and maintain their proper function. They are hired independently or contractually in industrial establishments to do their job. They must respond quickly if a malfunction is observed, ensuring safety along the way. They must have good communication skills to work with the team.
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.
Electrical maintenance engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,585 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $106,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | The Woodlands, TX | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical maintenance engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical maintenance engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 6% | 5% |