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The differences between hvac 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 hvac engineer and a project engineer. Additionally, a project engineer has an average salary of $75,050, 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 project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Hvac Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,354 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $33.82 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,743 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
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.
Hvac engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,354 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $97,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a hvac engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Duke University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between hvac engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Hvac Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |