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The differences between graduate engineers and project 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 project engineer. Additionally, a project engineer has an average salary of $75,050, 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 project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Graduate Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,395 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $33.84 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 98,584 | 176,689 |
| 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 Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Graduate engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graduate Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,395 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $89,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a graduate engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Graduate Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between graduate engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Graduate Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |