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The differences between material engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material engineer has an average salary of $86,258, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a material engineer include DOD, failure analysis and data analysis. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Material Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,258 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $41.47 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 89,717 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Materials engineers are responsible for developing, processing, and testing materials used to create a wide variety of products. These professionals study and evaluate the properties and structure of different materials, including plastics, metal, ceramics, and composites, to create new products. They also perform other tasks that include providing technical advice on suitable materials, diagnosing faults, and providing advice on planning and conducting inspections, repairs, and maintenance. Additionally, they may also oversee the work of other scientists like technicians and evaluate the technical and economic factors surrounding the design aspects of products.
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.
Material engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,258 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $113,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a material engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Material Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Materials Science And Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between material engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Material Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 19.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 10% | 5% |