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The differences between project engineers and superintendents 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 superintendent takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a superintendent has an average salary of $82,458, 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 superintendent are OSHA, quality standards, and construction management.
| Project Engineer | Superintendent | |
| Yearly salary | $75,050 | $82,458 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 176,689 | 22,580 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
Superintendents oversee the administration of schools in a specific school district. They manage the educational programs of each school and create strategic decisions to ensure that the students are learning important subjects. They also supervise school administrators or principals and are responsible for hiring and guiding them. Superintendents should be familiar with their constituents and must always be ready to listen to their needs. It is important that superintendents are good decision-makers and communicators. They are expected to lead their respective districts in achieving their vision. Superintendents drive the team towards their goals and create strategic steps to ensure success.
Project engineers and superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer | Superintendent | |
| Average salary | $75,050 | $82,458 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $100,000 | Between $57,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between a project engineer and a superintendent in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer | Superintendent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between project engineers' and superintendents' demographics:
| Project Engineer | Superintendent | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% |
| 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, 12.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 16% |