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The differences between hvac engineers and building engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a hvac engineer, becoming a building engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a building engineer has an average salary of $76,446, which is higher than the $70,354 average annual salary of a hvac engineer.
The top three skills for a hvac engineer include plumbing, preventive maintenance and electrical equipment. The most important skills for a building engineer are HVAC, ladders, and plumbing.
| Hvac Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,354 | $76,446 |
| Hourly rate | $33.82 | $36.75 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 101,743 | 13,440 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
An HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning) engineer is responsible for managing the efficiency and stability of cooling and heating systems. HVAC engineers install the system's components, requiring them to have an excellent analysis of schematics and blueprints. They also conduct regular inspection and cleaning services to ensure that the systems work on their optimal performance. An HVAC engineer must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills, especially in understanding system complexities and the ability to identify inconsistencies immediately.
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.
Hvac engineers and building engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,354 | $76,446 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $97,000 | Between $49,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a hvac engineer and a building engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Duke University | - |
Here are the differences between hvac engineers' and building engineers' demographics:
| Hvac Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 13.3% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 2% |