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The differences between project field engineers and senior project 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 field engineer and a senior project engineer. Additionally, a senior project engineer has an average salary of $97,803, 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 senior project engineer are project management, construction management, and CAD.
| Project Field Engineer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,292 | $97,803 |
| Hourly rate | $34.27 | $47.02 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 78,589 | 146,838 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 senior project engineer is responsible for monitoring the project team's overall process and operations from conceptualization until completion, ensuring the adherence to the clients' specifications, within the budget's goals, and the required deadline. Senior project engineers regularly communicate with the client regarding updates or necessary adjustments. They develop strategic procedures to finish the project efficiently by running diagnostic tests and troubleshooting discrepancies. A senior project engineer must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the team's performance and provide assistance when necessary.
Project field engineers and senior project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Field Engineer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,292 | $97,803 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $90,000 | Between $77,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oklahoma | Maryland |
| Best paying company | OHL USA | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a project field engineer and a senior project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Field Engineer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between project field engineers' and senior project engineers' demographics:
| Project Field Engineer | Senior Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.8% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |