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Plumbing designer vs project designer

The differences between plumbing designers and project designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a plumbing designer, becoming a project designer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a project designer has an average salary of $64,943, which is higher than the $61,468 average annual salary of a plumbing designer.

The top three skills for a plumbing designer include revit, plumbing and fire protection. The most important skills for a project designer are revit, sketch, and design concepts.

Plumbing designer vs project designer overview

Plumbing DesignerProject Designer
Yearly salary$61,468$64,943
Hourly rate$29.55$31.22
Growth rate2%1%
Number of jobs44,97560,364
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4142
Years of experience64

What does a plumbing designer do?

Plumbing Designers are responsible for developing plumbing and drainage systems for residential or commercial areas. Their duties include providing design specifications to clients, producing schematics, achieving key performance metrics, and conducting quality assurance assessments. They contribute technical content for marketing purposes, sourcing equipment, and guiding internal departments on installation procedures. Plumbing Designers also prepare client proposals, supervise junior staff, and provide staff training sessions.

What does a project designer do?

A Project Designer provides assistance in project design and development activities based on customer requirements. They develop solutions to client architectural complexities.

Plumbing designer vs project designer salary

Plumbing designers and project designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Plumbing DesignerProject Designer
Average salary$61,468$64,943
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $85,000Between $47,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew Mexico
Best paying companyBelcanApple
Best paying industryConstructionManufacturing

Differences between plumbing designer and project designer education

There are a few differences between a plumbing designer and a project designer in terms of educational background:

Plumbing DesignerProject Designer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignArchitecture
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCornell University

Plumbing designer vs project designer demographics

Here are the differences between plumbing designers' and project designers' demographics:

Plumbing DesignerProject Designer
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 87.4% Female, 12.6%Male, 66.5% Female, 33.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage5%23%

Differences between plumbing designer and project designer duties and responsibilities

Plumbing designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
  • Provide reports, coordination of shop drawings, review between MEP and structural.
  • Create plans from schematic design through construction documents using AutoCad and Revit for all MEP systems.
  • Generate BIM plans for clients, as well as AUTOCADD drawings.
  • Create sketch sheets to answer RFI's and construction conflicts.
  • Update HVAC drawings for reference book used by installers to be hand out at a conference.
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Project designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead efforts to redesign and convert existing self-pace and instructor-le course materials into eLearning and web-base formats.
  • Provide 2D AutoCAD and 3D Sketchup drawings for client presentations.
  • Implement AIA layering standards and create file management standards for the office.
  • Calculate size of ductwork, hydronic piping, plumbing, and gas piping.
  • Time management, procedure, and field sketch expertise, must be absolute, and perfect.
  • Prepare and deliver construction documents using Revit and AutoCAD for each project on time and within budget.
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Plumbing designer vs project designer skills

Common plumbing designer skills
  • Revit, 20%
  • Plumbing, 18%
  • Fire Protection, 15%
  • MEP, 7%
  • HVAC, 5%
  • Water Systems, 3%
Common project designer skills
  • Revit, 17%
  • Sketch, 8%
  • Design Concepts, 5%
  • Auto CAD, 5%
  • SketchUp, 5%
  • Design Development, 4%

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