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The differences between requirements engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a requirements engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $87,170 average annual salary of a requirements engineer.
The top three skills for a requirements engineer include java, software development and powerpoint. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Requirements Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,170 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $41.91 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 166,444 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Requirements engineers are responsible for the analysis, documentation, coordination, and management of requirements regarding new software projects. They identify and understand the customer's project-specific demands and document them in a clear and binding way. Their duties and responsibilities also include preparing well-written and detailed documentation of the project and ensuring the project is designed and built within the legal parameters.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Requirements engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Requirements Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,170 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $120,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a requirements engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Requirements Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between requirements engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Requirements Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.5% Female, 35.5% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |