Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between hvac engineers and research and development 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 research and development engineer. Additionally, a research and development engineer has an average salary of $100,169, 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 research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Hvac Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,354 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $33.82 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 101,743 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Hvac engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,354 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $97,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a hvac engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Duke University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between hvac engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Hvac Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |