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The differences between engineering project specialists and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become an engineering project specialist, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineering project specialist has an average salary of $107,780, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for an engineering project specialist include project management, program management and BOM. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Engineering Project Specialist | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,780 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $51.82 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 64,773 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
The primary role of an engineering project specialist is overseeing the project process until its completion. They are the ones who are in constant communication with the contractors, suppliers, and stakeholders, from accounting to inventory to deliveries and even to hiring new staff to increase the workforce, so that a project will be completed on time, with no missing parts, and with no fail. If a problem arises, engineering project specialists can troubleshoot and find a timely solution.
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.
Engineering project specialists and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Project Specialist | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,780 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $164,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Farmington, CT | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an engineering project specialist and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Project Specialist | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between engineering project specialists' and project engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Project Specialist | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 11.9% White, 71.8% 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 | 9% | 5% |