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Infrastructure engineer vs civil engineer

The differences between infrastructure engineers and civil engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an infrastructure engineer, becoming a civil engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an infrastructure engineer has an average salary of $106,438, which is higher than the $70,950 average annual salary of a civil engineer.

The top three skills for an infrastructure engineer include python, cloud and linux. The most important skills for a civil engineer are civil 3d, engineering design, and cost estimates.

Infrastructure engineer vs civil engineer overview

Infrastructure EngineerCivil Engineer
Yearly salary$106,438$70,950
Hourly rate$51.17$34.11
Growth rate5%7%
Number of jobs91,84526,803
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4341
Years of experience26

What does an infrastructure engineer do?

As an infrastructure engineer, they're responsible for designing, deploying, and maintaining the IT infrastructure using the newest technology and ensure all the systems within an organization function seamlessly. They ensure all the IT systems are updated to support the business to function effectively. It is also their job to maintain internet connections, cabling, virtualization platforms, and storage area networks. Moreover, they oversee the IT infrastructure engineer system administration middleware application servers, like Oracle Weblogic server, IBM WebSphere server, and automated workflow tools.

What does a civil engineer do?

A civil engineer designs and supervises the construction of large-scale public works projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, highways, airports, bridges, dams, and other substantial infrastructure. Most civil engineers work in the private industry, but some work for a government organization. Their output is almost everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific project or practice a target profession such as in transportation, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering. They oftentimes work at project sites, as they monitor the ongoing construction.

Infrastructure engineer vs civil engineer salary

Infrastructure engineers and civil engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Infrastructure EngineerCivil Engineer
Average salary$106,438$70,950
Salary rangeBetween $76,000 And $148,000Between $51,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyCredit KarmaThe Citadel
Best paying industryRetailConstruction

Differences between infrastructure engineer and civil engineer education

There are a few differences between an infrastructure engineer and a civil engineer in terms of educational background:

Infrastructure EngineerCivil Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorComputer ScienceCivil Engineering
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Infrastructure engineer vs civil engineer demographics

Here are the differences between infrastructure engineers' and civil engineers' demographics:

Infrastructure EngineerCivil Engineer
Average age4341
Gender ratioMale, 92.2% Female, 7.8%Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 13.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.6% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%5%

Differences between infrastructure engineer and civil engineer duties and responsibilities

Infrastructure engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage public and private DNS records and servers.
  • Manage IIs web servers and IBM WebSphere application servers.
  • Manage Netapp FAS2240 NAS device by configuring multiple shares.
  • Work with python Boto3 SDK to automate backups to S3.
  • Lead technical team with major data migration from legacy NetApp storage systems to EMC disk.
  • Achieve VDI system high availability, eliminating single-points of failure to the VDI environment for internal and external VDI connectivity.
  • Show more

Civil engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of full sets of contract documents (grading, drainage, water, sewer, paving and SWPPP).
  • Manage project programming requirements and manage HVAC design activities.
  • Project manage the overall reorganizing and restructuring of the telecommunication department.
  • Design engineer and project manager for HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems.
  • Support and troubleshoot Hewlett Packard printers, servers, switches, thin clients, and Cisco phone systems.
  • Handle and continuously update project documentation as as-built records and construction record reports.
  • Show more

Infrastructure engineer vs civil engineer skills

Common infrastructure engineer skills
  • Python, 10%
  • Cloud, 8%
  • Linux, 8%
  • AWS, 7%
  • Java, 6%
  • Azure, 5%
Common civil engineer skills
  • Civil 3D, 11%
  • Engineering Design, 7%
  • Cost Estimates, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Construction Projects, 4%
  • Engineering Projects, 4%

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