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Plumbing designer vs project engineer

The differences between plumbing designers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a plumbing designer and a project engineer. Additionally, a project engineer has an average salary of $75,050, 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 engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.

Plumbing designer vs project engineer overview

Plumbing DesignerProject Engineer
Yearly salary$61,468$75,050
Hourly rate$29.55$36.08
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs44,975176,689
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

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 engineer do?

A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.

Plumbing designer vs project engineer salary

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

Plumbing DesignerProject Engineer
Average salary$61,468$75,050
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $85,000Between $55,000 And $100,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutWashington
Best paying companyBelcanApple
Best paying industryConstructionEnergy

Differences between plumbing designer and project engineer education

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

Plumbing DesignerProject Engineer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Plumbing designer vs project engineer demographics

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

Plumbing DesignerProject Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 87.4% Female, 12.6%Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9%
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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between plumbing designer and project engineer 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 engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage TCP/IP LAN environment for the time during implementation.
  • Support and manage the development of a CNC base electron beam drill.
  • Lead a MGPP six sigma project to improve the accuracy of 3D clutch cooling analysis
  • Manage the BHP enterprise wide migration from e-rooms to SharePoint for document management and team collaboration.
  • Manage the installation of a CNC laser cutting system with full responsibility for all aspects of the project.
  • Coordinate and manage activities of the 787-9 IPT's to complete the specific aircraft side of the test cells.
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Plumbing designer vs project engineer skills

Common plumbing designer skills
  • Revit, 20%
  • Plumbing, 18%
  • Fire Protection, 15%
  • MEP, 7%
  • HVAC, 5%
  • Water Systems, 3%
Common project engineer skills
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Autocad, 7%
  • Construction Management, 6%
  • CAD, 4%
  • UL, 4%
  • Cost Estimates, 3%

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