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The differences between project development engineers and 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 development engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $85,059 average annual salary of a project development engineer.
The top three skills for a project development engineer include renewable energy, project management and cost estimates. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Project Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,059 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $40.89 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,300 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A project development engineer designs and develops projects according to the client or company's goals and requirements. They typically perform extensive research and analysis, establish prototypes and test structures, coordinate with fellow experts, and study existing projects to identify their strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. They may also provide technical guidance and support to staff, train junior engineers, and develop strategies to optimize project operations. Moreover, a project development engineer must maintain an active communication line with teams while enforcing safety policies and project regulations.
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.
Project development engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,059 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $110,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a project development engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between project development engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Project Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.5% Female, 15.5% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 13.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 5% |