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Foundation engineer vs structural designer

The differences between foundation engineers and structural designers 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 designer. Additionally, a foundation engineer has an average salary of $76,200, which is higher than the $63,273 average annual salary of a structural designer.

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

Foundation engineer vs structural designer overview

Foundation EngineerStructural Designer
Yearly salary$76,200$63,273
Hourly rate$36.63$30.42
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs8,10451,432
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

Foundation engineer vs structural designer salary

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

Foundation EngineerStructural Designer
Average salary$76,200$63,273
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $117,000Between $47,000 And $84,000
Highest paying CityMenlo Park, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaTesla
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between foundation engineer and structural designer education

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

Foundation EngineerStructural Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringDrafting And Design
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Foundation engineer vs structural designer demographics

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

Foundation EngineerStructural Designer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6%
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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between foundation engineer and structural designer 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 designer example responsibilities.

  • Field route pipe systems; manage line and pipe support list; ISO s for fabrication / installation.
  • Assure compliance with refinery and OSHA safety requirements in selecting, locating and hookup of equipment.
  • Develop record system, QA & QC policies and procedures, peer review system to reduce installation errors.
  • Provide general arrangement, detail, and design drawings of ladders, platforms, and frame structure for the following projects.
  • Prepare AutoCAD engineering drawings of structural components for natural gas turbine compressor stations.
  • Programme PLC, VFD and SCADA equipment.
  • Show more

Foundation engineer vs structural designer skills

Common foundation engineer skills
  • Geotechnical, 66%
  • CSS, 13%
  • Deep Foundations, 10%
  • Foundation Drawings, 10%
Common structural designer skills
  • Revit, 14%
  • Structural Design, 10%
  • BIM, 5%
  • Navisworks, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • Engineering Design, 4%

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