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The differences between field engineers and site engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a field engineer, becoming a site engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a site engineer has an average salary of $75,719, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a field engineer include customer service, customer satisfaction and project management. The most important skills for a site engineer are project management, infrastructure, and site safety.
| Field Engineer | Site Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,874 | $75,719 |
| Hourly rate | $34.55 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 86,015 | 42,333 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
A Site Engineer supervises the building work and contracted staff, and ensures that all projects meet the agreed specifications, budgets, and timescales. They provide technical advice and solve various problems on-site.
Field engineers and site engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Engineer | Site Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,874 | $75,719 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $99,000 | Between $53,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Fitbit |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a field engineer and a site engineer in terms of educational background:
| Field Engineer | Site Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between field engineers' and site engineers' demographics:
| Field Engineer | Site Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.4% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |