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The differences between facility designers and design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a facility designer, becoming a design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design engineer has an average salary of $77,134, which is higher than the $63,152 average annual salary of a facility designer.
The top three skills for a facility designer include revit, facilities design and space planning. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Facility Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $63,152 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $30.36 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 50,714 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A facility designer specializes in developing establishment plans according to project requirements. Although the extent of their responsibilities varies on every project, it usually includes meeting with clients to conceptualize facility plans, conducting research and analysis, visiting sites to perform measurements and assessments, utilizing special tools and software, and coordinating with engineers and clients. Moreover, a facility designer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Facility designers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Facility Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $63,152 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $85,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Media | Technology |
There are a few differences between a facility designer and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Facility Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between facility designers' and design engineers' demographics:
| Facility Designer | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 5% |