Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between project engineers and equipment 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 project engineer and an equipment engineer. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a project engineer include project management, autocad and construction management. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Project Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,050 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 176,689 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Project engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,050 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $100,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Apple | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between project engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Project Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |