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The differences between engineering project specialists and senior 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 senior 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 $97,803 average annual salary of a senior project engineer.
The top three skills for an engineering project specialist include project management, program management and BOM. The most important skills for a senior project engineer are project management, construction management, and CAD.
| Engineering Project Specialist | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,780 | $97,803 |
| Hourly rate | $51.82 | $47.02 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 64,773 | 146,838 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 senior project engineer is responsible for monitoring the project team's overall process and operations from conceptualization until completion, ensuring the adherence to the clients' specifications, within the budget's goals, and the required deadline. Senior project engineers regularly communicate with the client regarding updates or necessary adjustments. They develop strategic procedures to finish the project efficiently by running diagnostic tests and troubleshooting discrepancies. A senior project engineer must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the team's performance and provide assistance when necessary.
Engineering project specialists and senior project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Project Specialist | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,780 | $97,803 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $164,000 | Between $77,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Farmington, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Apple | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an engineering project specialist and a senior project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Project Specialist | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between engineering project specialists' and senior project engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Project Specialist | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% | Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.8% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |