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The differences between project engineers and professional 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 a professional engineer. Additionally, a professional engineer has an average salary of $86,348, 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 a professional engineer are civil engineering, project management, and PE.
| Project Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,050 | $86,348 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $41.51 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 176,689 | 74,009 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
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.
Project engineers and professional engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,050 | $86,348 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $100,000 | Between $63,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Apple | Bayer |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a project engineer and a professional engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between project engineers' and professional engineers' demographics:
| Project Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| 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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |