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The differences between plant engineers and equipment 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 equipment engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $93,949 average annual salary of a plant engineer.
The top three skills for a plant engineer include HVAC, project management and plant operations. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Plant Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,949 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $45.17 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 44,391 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Plant engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,949 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $130,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plant Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between plant engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Plant Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |