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The differences between hydraulic engineers and senior design 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 hydraulic engineer and a senior design engineer. Additionally, a senior design engineer has an average salary of $104,698, which is higher than the $84,440 average annual salary of a hydraulic engineer.
The top three skills for a hydraulic engineer include hec ras, civil engineering and HEC-RAS. The most important skills for a senior design engineer are CAD, project management, and RF.
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,440 | $104,698 |
| Hourly rate | $40.60 | $50.34 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 91,749 | 127,035 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Hydraulics engineers are engineering professionals who design projects that are related to the movement and control of fluids. These engineers must perform many studies to understand water systems and design dams, drainage systems, and levees for the local government. They are required to participate in the water resources and flood control planning by creating a deep foundation and flood control structure designs. Hydraulics must also communicate with clients and governing bodies to address their concerns about stormwater and erosion.
A senior design engineer is responsible for creating mechanical and electrical designs for machines and systems, following clients' specifications and business guidelines. Senior design engineers also assist junior design engineers with their tasks, sharing best practices and techniques, and suggesting adjustments as needed. They also oversee the manufacturing process, inspect possible inconsistencies, and revise plans without exceeding the agreed budget or compromising the quality. A senior design engineer must be keen with details and highly organizational, especially on meeting deadlines with the highest client satisfaction.
Hydraulic engineers and senior design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,440 | $104,698 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $118,000 | Between $80,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Phillips 66 | |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a hydraulic engineer and a senior design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between hydraulic engineers' and senior design engineers' demographics:
| Hydraulic Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.9% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |