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The differences between packaging engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a packaging engineer, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a packaging engineer has an average salary of $88,452, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a packaging engineer include CAD, project management and solidworks. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Packaging Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,452 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $42.52 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 54,028 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Packaging Engineer plans and implements packaging designs to ensure product integrity and appeal. Their primary duties include supervising and managing the complete packaging development process, analyzing engineering drawings, and conducting periodic vendor reviews.
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.
Packaging engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packaging Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,452 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $118,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a packaging engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Packaging Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Engineering And Industrial Management | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between packaging engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Packaging Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.1% Female, 22.9% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.1% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 5% |