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The differences between professional engineers and 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 professional engineer and an engineer. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $86,348 average annual salary of a professional engineer.
The top three skills for a professional engineer include civil engineering, project management and PE. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Professional Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,348 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $41.51 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 74,009 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A professional engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and structures through different principles. Although their duties will vary upon their industry of employment, it typically includes performing site assessments and examinations, studying the purpose and goals of the project, developing plans and guidelines, monitoring the progress of operations, and resolving issues and concerns promptly and efficiently. They may work together with architects and senior engineers, liaise with clients or contractors, and perform regular site inspections. Furthermore, a professional engineer must implement safety protocols and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
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.
Professional engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,348 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $118,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Bayer | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a professional engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Professional Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between professional engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Professional Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 5% | 5% |