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Foundation engineer vs structural design engineer

The differences between foundation engineers and structural design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a foundation engineer and a structural design engineer. Additionally, a foundation engineer has an average salary of $76,200, which is higher than the $75,662 average annual salary of a structural design engineer.

The top three skills for a foundation engineer include geotechnical, CSS and deep foundations. The most important skills for a structural design engineer are structural design, CAD, and autocad.

Foundation engineer vs structural design engineer overview

Foundation EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Yearly salary$76,200$75,662
Hourly rate$36.63$36.38
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs8,10457,187
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

Foundation engineer vs structural design engineer salary

Foundation engineers and structural design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Foundation EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Average salary$76,200$75,662
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $117,000Between $54,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CityMenlo Park, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaGoogle
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between foundation engineer and structural design engineer education

There are a few differences between a foundation engineer and a structural design engineer in terms of educational background:

Foundation EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringCivil Engineering
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Foundation engineer vs structural design engineer demographics

Here are the differences between foundation engineers' and structural design engineers' demographics:

Foundation EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 12.1% White, 71.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.3% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between foundation engineer and structural design engineer duties and responsibilities

Foundation engineer example responsibilities.

  • Calculate sub-contractors weekly accomplish work for payroll.
  • Prepare proposals, budgets, and geotechnical engineering reports.
  • Compile results and recommend design in a geotechnical design report.
  • Operate and troubleshoot vacuum deposition machinery used in the development of anodes vital to the design of novel lithium-sulfur battery technology.
  • Maintain safety records that meet OSHA standards and monitor emergency requirements.

Structural design engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team on a year-long retrofit design effort for the F/A-18 E/F wing.
  • Review of design standards and procedures to conform to current IBC, ASCE, AWWA and ACI codes.
  • Perform stress analysis by hand and using FEA.
  • Load rating analysis and calculation methods base on AASHTO LRFR specifications.
  • Design steel pipe supports & frames for liquid natural plants using ASCE & AISC.
  • Perform seismic and wind load calculations in compliance with the ASCE 7-05, IBC and Ohio building codes.
  • Show more

Foundation engineer vs structural design engineer skills

Common foundation engineer skills
  • Geotechnical, 66%
  • CSS, 13%
  • Deep Foundations, 10%
  • Foundation Drawings, 10%
Common structural design engineer skills
  • Structural Design, 15%
  • CAD, 10%
  • Autocad, 7%
  • Aerospace, 6%
  • GD, 5%
  • Aided Design, 5%

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