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The differences between engineers and planning engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an engineer, becoming a planning engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $82,521 average annual salary of a planning engineer.
The top three skills for an engineer include python, cloud and C++. The most important skills for a planning engineer are project management, infrastructure, and transmission planning.
| Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,077 | $82,521 |
| Hourly rate | $44.27 | $39.67 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 618,207 | 56,792 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
A planning engineer is in charge of developing plans and systems to organize and schedule project procedures, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities revolve around learning and understanding the extent of all operations, setting schedules and objectives, liaising with external parties such as vendors or distributors, and maintaining an active communication line with other departments. Furthermore, a planning engineer must monitor the progress of the workflow and the performance of the workforce, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Engineers and planning engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,077 | $82,521 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $130,000 | Between $61,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Huntsville, AL | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Fort Bend County | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an engineer and a planning engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between engineers' and planning engineers' demographics:
| Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.6% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |