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Project executive vs project engineer

The differences between project executives and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project executive has an average salary of $123,391, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.

The top three skills for a project executive include construction management, project management and healthcare. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.

Project executive vs project engineer overview

Project ExecutiveProject Engineer
Yearly salary$123,391$75,050
Hourly rate$59.32$36.08
Growth rate16%2%
Number of jobs137,160176,689
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4741
Years of experience-6

What does a project executive do?

A project executive spearheads the projects and programs of an organization, ensuring its completion within deadlines, budgets, and standards. They mainly have administrative duties, such as streamlining project requirements and guidelines, establishing goals and budgets, setting timelines, delegating responsibilities among teams, selecting resources and materials, and monitoring operations, addressing issues and concerns when any arise. Additionally, a project executive leads employees to reach goals and implements the company standards and policies for an efficient workflow and service.

What does a project engineer do?

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.

Project executive vs project engineer salary

Project executives and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project ExecutiveProject Engineer
Average salary$123,391$75,050
Salary rangeBetween $79,000 And $191,000Between $55,000 And $100,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaWashington
Best paying companyEckardt GroupApple
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between project executive and project engineer education

There are a few differences between a project executive and a project engineer in terms of educational background:

Project ExecutiveProject Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorBusinessMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Project executive vs project engineer demographics

Here are the differences between project executives' and project engineers' demographics:

Project ExecutiveProject Engineer
Average age4741
Gender ratioMale, 74.4% Female, 25.6%Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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%
LGBT Percentage10%5%

Differences between project executive and project engineer duties and responsibilities

Project executive example responsibilities.

  • Note for co-authoring and managing RFP process.
  • Manage projects using ITIL and SDLC methodologies.
  • Manage vendors and internal service owners to create the proper operating model to deliver service against SLAs.
  • Lead cross-functional team delivery execution of top-of-rack and embed converged network architecture switches.
  • Coordinate and manage project delivery of healthcare design and construction projects in collaboration with hospital staff.
  • Lead operational transformation projects, perform service line volume projections, and feasibility exercises for various facilities.
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Project engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage TCP/IP LAN environment for the time during implementation.
  • Support and manage the development of a CNC base electron beam drill.
  • Lead a MGPP six sigma project to improve the accuracy of 3D clutch cooling analysis
  • Manage the BHP enterprise wide migration from e-rooms to SharePoint for document management and team collaboration.
  • Manage the installation of a CNC laser cutting system with full responsibility for all aspects of the project.
  • Coordinate and manage activities of the 787-9 IPT's to complete the specific aircraft side of the test cells.
  • Show more

Project executive vs project engineer skills

Common project executive skills
  • Construction Management, 13%
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Business Development, 7%
  • Client Satisfaction, 5%
  • Portfolio, 4%
Common project engineer skills
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Autocad, 7%
  • Construction Management, 6%
  • CAD, 4%
  • UL, 4%
  • Cost Estimates, 3%

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