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The differences between project engineers and field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a project engineer, becoming a field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a project engineer has an average salary of $75,050, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a project engineer include project management, autocad and construction management. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Project Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,050 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 176,689 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Project engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,050 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $100,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between project engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Project Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |