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The differences between performance engineers and 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 performance engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a performance engineer has an average salary of $101,647, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a performance engineer include java, linux and performance issues. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Performance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,647 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $48.87 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 95,652 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Performance Engineer validates system stability and its performance by carrying out load tests. They analyze test outcomes and work diligently with different engineers and developers to deliver excellent bug fix results. These professionals improve system capacity, scalability, reliability, and performance by offering technical assistance. Besides undertaking root cause evaluation of the system's performance problems and giving corrective actions, a performance engineer also recommends system improvements after evaluating the system performance. Also, they oversee the performance lifecycle and then recommend the right improvements.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Performance engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Performance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,647 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $134,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Meta | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a performance engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Performance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between performance engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Performance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |