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The differences between geotechnical engineers and staff 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 geotechnical engineer and a staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, which is higher than the $74,831 average annual salary of a geotechnical engineer.
The top three skills for a geotechnical engineer include geotechnical, civil engineering and project management. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Geotechnical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,831 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $35.98 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 15,062 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Geotechnical Engineer plans and designs the structures for buildings, roads, embankments, canals, and other construction projects. They provide advice to civil and structural engineers, architects, and construction personnel.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Geotechnical engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geotechnical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,831 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $99,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a geotechnical engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Geotechnical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between geotechnical engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Geotechnical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.0% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |