1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
What is a Project Engineer/Software Engineer?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a project engineer/software engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $57.15 an hour? That's $118,877 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 21% and produce 284,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Project Engineer/Software Engineer Do
There are certain skills that many project engineer/software engineers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, communication skills and creativity.
How To Become a Project Engineer/Software Engineer
If you're interested in becoming a project engineer/software engineer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 74.1% of project engineer/software engineers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 16.1% of project engineer/software engineers have master's degrees. Even though most project engineer/software engineers have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Project Engineer/Software Engineer Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of software engineer you might progress to a role such as systems engineer eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title manager, systems engineering.
Project Engineer/Software Engineer
Manager, Systems Engineering
9 Years
Director Of Software Development
12 Years
Vice President Of Engineering
13 Years
Senior Director Of Information & Technology
14 Years
Senior Development Manager
10 Years
Product Owner
9 Years
Show More
Average Salary for a Project Engineer/Software Engineer
Project Engineer/Software Engineers in America make an average salary of $118,877 per year or $57 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $156,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $90,000 per year.
Average Project Engineer/Software Engineer Salary
$118,877 Yearly$57.15 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Project Engineer/Software Engineer
The role of a project engineer/software engineer includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual's specific job, company, or industry.Here are some general project engineer/software engineer responsibilities:
- Provide engineering support for product development process. Support the chief engineer for advanced engineering in the completion of the department assigned projects for the given calendar year provide guidance
- Responsible project engineer (pe) for preparing software maintenance plans
- Help maintain and contribute to the public
There are several types of project engineer/software engineer, including:
Project Engineer
Role:
A project engineer is responsible for the planning and implementation of a project. In collaboration with the management of the enterprise, they review proposals and come up with project goals. They break down the process and create a viable schedule, and then coordinate and monitor the work.
The project, as such, sounds vague because it depends on the industry they work for. In any case, they go on regular meetings with clients to make sure the the evolution of the work matches their vision. It is their responsibility to carry out the work within the budget or to propose adjustments to it if they see fit.
The project engineer will analyze the performance of their team and present progress reports to stakeholders to make sure everyone is at the top of their game.
- Average Salary: $75,050
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Software Test Engineer
Role:
Software test engineers are professionals who ensure that software is doing what it is designed to do consistently. From their title, one major duty of a software test engineer is to test out the software. They carry out a variety of both automated and manual tests to ensure the software is consistently producing the desired results. After tests have been carried out, you have to come up with reports about the outcome of the test, which will aid decision-making. You are also to collaborate with developers and other colleagues. Sometimes, you could be called to monitor the work of other testers.
Generally, software test engineers hold a bachelor's degree in software engineering or computer science. Having a master's degree gives you an edge and makes you eligible for leadership positions. Software test engineers are not only expected to be shrewd, but you have to be a great communicator. Paying attention to detail, the ability to handle stress well, and multitasking are some other skills you must possess. The median salary per year is $83,070.
- Average Salary: $85,338
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Software Development Engineer
Role:
While playing games, using specific apps, or merely using your cell-phone, do you ever think who develops them? Well, it's the Software Development Engineer who works day and night to make your screen interaction better and bolder. But trust us, the effort is paid quite well because as a Software Development Engineer, you can make, on average, $56 per hour.
Becoming a software development engineer, however, is not possible without hard work and patience. You need hours and hours of practice after acquiring the required knowledge. Thus, to become one, you must at least get a bachelor's degree. But you will find that more than 45% of the practicing professionals have a master's degree!
As a Software Development Engineer, you will be hired for a 9-5 job, but you don't need a physical office to work. In fact, most of the companies will ask you to work in your comfort zone while completing your projects effectively.
- Average Salary: $109,147
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Project Engineer/Software Engineer Jobs
Mouse over a state to see the number of active project engineer/software engineer jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where project engineer/software engineers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average Salary: Job Openings:
Number Of Project Engineer/Software Engineer Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 18,008 | $147,539 |
| 2 | Texas | 6,649 | $126,783 |
| 3 | Washington | 5,998 | $146,728 |
| 4 | Virginia | 4,818 | $111,166 |
| 5 | New York | 4,813 | $127,617 |
| 6 | Florida | 4,241 | $108,583 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 4,199 | $121,108 |
| 8 | Illinois | 4,043 | $91,595 |
| 9 | Ohio | 3,612 | $110,680 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 3,283 | $108,826 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 3,271 | $105,658 |
| 12 | Minnesota | 3,220 | $113,867 |
| 13 | Maryland | 3,130 | $110,271 |
| 14 | Michigan | 3,045 | $99,887 |
| 15 | Georgia | 3,018 | $105,809 |
| 16 | Colorado | 2,851 | $116,988 |
| 17 | New Jersey | 2,788 | $108,205 |
| 18 | Indiana | 2,443 | $98,250 |
| 19 | Oregon | 2,243 | $120,678 |
| 20 | Missouri | 2,141 | $100,142 |
| 21 | Arizona | 2,075 | $121,215 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 1,982 | $101,704 |
| 23 | Tennessee | 1,577 | $107,870 |
| 24 | Alabama | 1,546 | $91,059 |
| 25 | Utah | 1,457 | $127,100 |
| 26 | Iowa | 1,166 | $107,191 |
| 27 | Connecticut | 1,154 | $111,556 |
| 28 | Kansas | 1,119 | $91,314 |
| 29 | Kentucky | 1,057 | $111,163 |
| 30 | South Carolina | 1,038 | $106,809 |
| 31 | Arkansas | 986 | $99,446 |
| 32 | Nebraska | 929 | $85,257 |
| 33 | Nevada | 852 | $107,160 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 851 | $94,348 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | 842 | $110,038 |
| 36 | New Mexico | 824 | $107,237 |
| 37 | Idaho | 784 | $105,849 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | 733 | $99,240 |
| 39 | Delaware | 612 | $116,361 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 534 | $114,041 |
| 41 | Maine | 503 | $104,445 |
| 42 | Mississippi | 470 | $99,603 |
| 43 | Montana | 459 | $105,928 |
| 44 | Vermont | 433 | $118,650 |
| 45 | West Virginia | 411 | $103,226 |
| 46 | North Dakota | 378 | $93,086 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 321 | $104,980 |
| 48 | Wyoming | 301 | $99,029 |
| 49 | Hawaii | 233 | $105,213 |
| 50 | Alaska | 230 | $111,321 |
Top Colleges for Project Engineer/Software Engineers
2. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
6. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
9. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,353
Enrollment
24,841
10. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
Top Skills For a Project Engineer/Software Engineer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 10.7% of project engineer/software engineers listed software development on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Project Engineer/Software Engineer Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Project Engineer/Software Engineer templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Project Engineer/Software Engineer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Project Engineer/Software Engineer diversity
Project Engineer/Software Engineer Gender Distribution
Male
79%
Female
21%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among project engineer/software engineers, 21.4% of them are women, while 78.6% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among project engineer/software engineers is White, which makes up 52.2% of all project engineer/software engineers.
- The most common foreign language among project engineer/software engineers is French at 21.4%.
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Best States For a Project Engineer/Software Engineer
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a project engineer/software engineer. The best states for people in this position are California, Washington, New York, and Utah. Project engineer/software engineers make the most in California with an average salary of $147,539. Whereas in Washington and New York, they would average $146,728 and $127,617, respectively. While project engineer/software engineers would only make an average of $127,100 in Utah, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Washington
Total Project Engineer/Software Engineer Jobs: 5,998
Highest 10% Earn:
$194,000
Location Quotient:
2.05
$146,728
Avg. Salary
2. California
Total Project Engineer/Software Engineer Jobs: 18,008
Highest 10% Earn:
$196,000
Location Quotient:
1.53
$147,539
Avg. Salary
3. Utah
Total Project Engineer/Software Engineer Jobs: 1,457
Highest 10% Earn:
$167,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
$127,100
Avg. Salary
How Do Project Engineer/Software Engineers Rate Their Jobs?
Top Project Engineer/Software Engineer Employers
Most Common Employers For Project Engineer/Software Engineer
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honeywell | $127,321 | $61.21 | 8 |
| 2 | Aptiv | $127,052 | $61.08 | 5 |
| 3 | Ball | $117,020 | $56.26 | 8 |
| 4 | General Motors | $110,588 | $53.17 | 7 |
| 5 | Wipro Limited | $109,057 | $52.43 | 16 |
| 6 | Pitney Bowes | $105,529 | $50.74 | 4 |
| 7 | Boeing | $105,201 | $50.58 | 5 |
| 8 | Rockwell Automation | $103,925 | $49.96 | 11 |
| 9 | Innovative Consulting Group | $103,265 | $49.65 | 4 |
| 10 | Xerox | $101,999 | $49.04 | 6 |