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The differences between project engineers and staff 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 staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, 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 staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Project Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,050 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 176,689 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Project engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,050 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $100,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a project engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 staff engineers' demographics:
| Project Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |