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The differences between reservoir engineers and production engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a reservoir engineer, becoming a production engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a reservoir engineer has an average salary of $124,309, which is higher than the $89,727 average annual salary of a production engineer.
The top three skills for a reservoir engineer include spotfire, material balances and economic analysis. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Reservoir Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $124,309 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $59.76 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 17,430 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
A reservoir engineer is responsible for evaluating the amount of fluid mechanics in underground reservoirs. Reservoir engineers should have excellent analytical and geological knowledge to determine the location of fuels using advanced technology systems and applications. They also verify the cost of oil and natural gas by analyzing market trends and consumer demands, especially for investment and drilling ventures purposes. A reservoir engineer should have excellent communication skills to write reports and strategize efficiency on drilling processes.
A production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Reservoir engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reservoir Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $124,309 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $170,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Range Resources | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a reservoir engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Reservoir Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Petroleum Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between reservoir engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Reservoir Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 19.1% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |