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The differences between plant engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a plant engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a plant engineer has an average salary of $93,949, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a plant engineer include HVAC, project management and plant operations. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Plant Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,949 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $45.17 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 44,391 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A Plant Engineer is responsible for directing the smooth operation of the plant. They plan and coordinate activities concerned with the design, construction, modification, and maintenance of equipment and machinery in an industrial plant.
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.
Plant engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,949 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $130,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a plant engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plant Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between plant engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Plant Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% 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 | 8% | 5% |