Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between plant utilities engineers and building engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a plant utilities engineer and a building engineer. Additionally, a building engineer has an average salary of $76,446, which is higher than the $51,200 average annual salary of a plant utilities engineer.
The top three skills for a plant utilities engineer include ventilation, plant utilities and loaders. The most important skills for a building engineer are HVAC, ladders, and plumbing.
Plant utilities engineers must have basic knowledge of commercial electrical systems and testing equipment, high temperature water distribution, and HVAC control systems. Qualifications will vary depending on the company; they range from a high school diploma or GED to associate degrees in plant utilities technology or completion of a trade school program. Those who choose this career will be expected to maintain and operate the mechanical equipment in a utilities plant.
The job of building engineers is to provide advice on design, installation, and maintenance of energy-efficient and cost-effective systems for all building services, including lighting, water, and air conditioning. These professionals are responsible for the distribution of water supply and electricity and resolving tenants' maintenance problems such as plumbing and electrical systems. Additional duties of the building engineers include conducting tests on systems, ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements, and liaising with construction professionals like surveyors and electricians.
Plant utilities engineers and building engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average salary | $51,200 | $76,446 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $74,000 | Between $49,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | Waipahu, HI | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a plant utilities engineer and a building engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant utilities engineers' and building engineers' demographics:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |