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The differences between handymen and building engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a handyman and a building engineer. Additionally, a building engineer has an average salary of $76,446, which is higher than the $44,648 average annual salary of a handyman.
The top three skills for a handyman include plumbing, customer service and drywall repair. The most important skills for a building engineer are HVAC, ladders, and plumbing.
| Handyman | Building Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $44,648 | $76,446 |
| Hourly rate | $21.47 | $36.75 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 3,371 | 13,440 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company. Furthermore, a handyman must also discuss the extent of repairs to clients, even sharing insights on maintaining facilities in good condition. There are instances when a handyman may be required to work in a group setting, which requires an active line of communication and coordination.
The job of building engineers is to provide advice on design, installation, and maintenance of energy-efficient and cost-effective systems for all building services, including lighting, water, and air conditioning. These professionals are responsible for the distribution of water supply and electricity and resolving tenants' maintenance problems such as plumbing and electrical systems. Additional duties of the building engineers include conducting tests on systems, ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements, and liaising with construction professionals like surveyors and electricians.
Handymen and building engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Handyman | Building Engineer | |
| Average salary | $44,648 | $76,446 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $61,000 | Between $49,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | Silver Spring, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a handyman and a building engineer in terms of educational background:
| Handyman | Building Engineer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between handymen' and building engineers' demographics:
| Handyman | Building Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 4.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |