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Foundation engineer vs structures engineer

The differences between foundation engineers and structures 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 structures engineer. Additionally, a foundation engineer has an average salary of $76,200, which is higher than the $73,391 average annual salary of a structures engineer.

The top three skills for a foundation engineer include geotechnical, CSS and deep foundations. The most important skills for a structures engineer are structural analysis, revit, and RISA.

Foundation engineer vs structures engineer overview

Foundation EngineerStructures Engineer
Yearly salary$76,200$73,391
Hourly rate$36.63$35.28
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs8,10420,778
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

Foundation engineer vs structures engineer salary

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

Foundation EngineerStructures Engineer
Average salary$76,200$73,391
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $117,000Between $54,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CityMenlo Park, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between foundation engineer and structures engineer education

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

Foundation EngineerStructures Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringCivil Engineering
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Foundation engineer vs structures engineer demographics

Here are the differences between foundation engineers' and structures engineers' demographics:

Foundation EngineerStructures Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1%
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, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between foundation engineer and structures 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.

Structures engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead group meetings with participants from various interfacing IPT s to coordinate design.
  • Authore substantiation documents in compliance with FAA regulations and customer requirements to achieve type certifications and supplemental type certifications.
  • Perform structural modeling and design calculation using 3-D FEA software for seismic design and wind design.
  • Design steel & concrete structures for above mention analyses base on AISC, ACI and local building codes.
  • Prepare calculation and review drawings which provide modifications for the concrete building to meet ACI and building code requirements.
  • Recommend retrofitting consist in replacing existing gypsum shear wall to 1.2 in plywood in accordance with ASCE 41-13 and IBC 2015
  • Show more

Foundation engineer vs structures engineer skills

Common foundation engineer skills
  • Geotechnical, 66%
  • CSS, 13%
  • Deep Foundations, 10%
  • Foundation Drawings, 10%
Common structures engineer skills
  • Structural Analysis, 10%
  • Revit, 8%
  • RISA, 5%
  • CAD, 4%
  • ACI, 4%
  • Engineering Design, 4%

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