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The differences between equipment engineers and maintenance 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 equipment engineer, becoming a maintenance engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $47,133 average annual salary of a maintenance engineer.
The top three skills for an equipment engineer include equipment performance, semiconductor and project management. The most important skills for a maintenance engineer are plumbing, HVAC, and guest rooms.
| Equipment Engineer | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,539 | $47,133 |
| Hourly rate | $46.89 | $22.66 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 108,449 | 97,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.
Equipment engineers and maintenance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Equipment Engineer | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,539 | $47,133 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $136,000 | Between $29,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Louisiana | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Halliburton |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between an equipment engineer and a maintenance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Equipment Engineer | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | - |
Here are the differences between equipment engineers' and maintenance engineers' demographics:
| Equipment Engineer | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 2% |