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The differences between materials research engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials research engineer has an average salary of $87,100, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a materials research engineer include materials research, research projects and characterization techniques. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Materials Research Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,100 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $41.88 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,912 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A materials research engineer researches, processes, and develops test materials used to create a wide range of products. They must be good in analytical, mechanical, and math skills. They are likely to perform in their role such as formulating their own project concepts, executing technology projects about the development of novel polymer fiber-reinforced composites, and identifying unknown material compositions. Also, they implement powder processing equipment and manufacture tools to improve their efficiency and quality.
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.
Materials research engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Research Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,100 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beaverton, OR | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Nike | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a materials research engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Materials Research 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 materials research engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Materials Research Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | 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, 66.4% 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% |