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The differences between refrigeration engineers and equipment 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 refrigeration engineer and an equipment engineer. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $88,921 average annual salary of a refrigeration engineer.
The top three skills for a refrigeration engineer include HVAC, freon and plumbing. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Refrigeration Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,921 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $42.75 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 64,405 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Refrigeration engineers are generally called to design and oversee the fabrication of both residential and industrial refrigeration systems, as well as troubleshoot any potential problems therewith. This choice of career will require a good knowledge base of thermodynamics, as well as computer-aided design systems. Refrigeration engineers must also have an understanding of health and safety regulation standards.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Refrigeration engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Refrigeration Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,921 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $125,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Standex International | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Energy |
There are a few differences between a refrigeration engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Refrigeration Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Duke University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between refrigeration engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Refrigeration Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 99.0% Female, 1.0% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |