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The differences between project designers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a project designer, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a project engineer has an average salary of $75,050, which is higher than the $64,943 average annual salary of a project designer.
The top three skills for a project designer include revit, sketch and design concepts. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Project Designer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $64,943 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $31.22 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 60,364 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Project Designer provides assistance in project design and development activities based on customer requirements. They develop solutions to client architectural complexities.
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.
Project designers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Designer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $64,943 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $89,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project designer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Designer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between project designers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Project Designer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.5% Female, 33.5% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 23% | 5% |