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The differences between hvac engineers and equipment 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 hvac engineer and an equipment engineer. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, 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 an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Hvac Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,354 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $33.82 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,743 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Hvac engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,354 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $97,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a hvac engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Duke University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between hvac engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Hvac Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |