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The differences between graduate engineers and professional 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 graduate engineer and a professional engineer. Additionally, a professional engineer has an average salary of $86,348, which is higher than the $70,395 average annual salary of a graduate engineer.
The top three skills for a graduate engineer include civil 3d, cost estimates and project management. The most important skills for a professional engineer are civil engineering, project management, and PE.
| Graduate Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,395 | $86,348 |
| Hourly rate | $33.84 | $41.51 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 98,584 | 74,009 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A graduate engineer can work in different engineering subspecialties, such as mechanical, civil, chemical, aerospace, and electrical. Most graduate engineers work on projects while under the supervision and directives of a supervisor or senior engineer. Their duties usually involve identifying and understanding project requirements, conducting research and assessments, completing surveys, and preparing models using different tools and software. Additionally, a graduate engineer can also create designs and prototypes according to project requirements and guidelines, producing regular progress reports for supervisors.
A professional engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and structures through different principles. Although their duties will vary upon their industry of employment, it typically includes performing site assessments and examinations, studying the purpose and goals of the project, developing plans and guidelines, monitoring the progress of operations, and resolving issues and concerns promptly and efficiently. They may work together with architects and senior engineers, liaise with clients or contractors, and perform regular site inspections. Furthermore, a professional engineer must implement safety protocols and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Graduate engineers and professional engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graduate Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,395 | $86,348 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $89,000 | Between $63,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Bayer |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a graduate engineer and a professional engineer in terms of educational background:
| Graduate Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between graduate engineers' and professional engineers' demographics:
| Graduate Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 24.9% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |