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The differences between project field engineers and field engineers 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 field engineer, becoming a field engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a field engineer has an average salary of $71,874, which is higher than the $71,292 average annual salary of a project field engineer.
The top three skills for a project field engineer include shop drawings, project management and OSHA. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Project Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,292 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $34.27 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 78,589 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Field engineers are engineering professionals who work on-site in a different setting to direct workers and report to the management about the status of different projects. These engineers are required to resolve malfunctions or other crises such as construction or machinery problems while overseeing repairs and technical improvements. They must conduct research and studies on-site and installing new systems and technology to ensure smooth operations of machinery. Field engineers must also communicate with clients to discuss and determine the needs and explain complex issues of projects.
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Project field engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,292 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $90,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oklahoma | Washington |
| Best paying company | OHL USA | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project field engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between project field engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Project Field Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |